Fiction: The Two of Us

[kethni]

Name: The Two of Us
Characters: Matt, Molly
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Note: for ever_obsessed who wanted ‘Matt raises Molly as a single Dad - and does a fine damn job, possibly as he tries to deal with his gay. Word count: 1136



Mornings used to be... not peaceful, granted, but slow. Matt’s not a morning person and he needs a cup of coffee, or three, before he’s up to speed on things like making toast, sorting out his phone, and remembering to put on underwear. He’d hit the snooze button three or four times before finally dragging himself from the bed, grumbling, muttering, and oblivious to anything, anyone, around him. He’d stagger into the bathroom, soak in the shower for twenty minutes, dry off, stumble around looking for clothes, and finally get his first cup of coffee.

Now, however, he’s rising out of bed as the alarm is blaring. He pulls on his robe, darts into the kitchen to put on the coffee, and dives into the bathroom for a speedy shower. He pulls on shorts, shirt, and pants in the bathroom before he hops along the hallway pulling on his socks. He drags Molly, ever protesting from her bed, throws her into the bathroom, pulls together breakfast for them both, and grabs a cup of coffee.

And then he wakes up.



‘...and everyone is going, Matt, really. You don’t want me to be the only girl not going, do you?’ she asks, folding her arms across her chest.

The school run. Matt does it every morning because, although there is a school bus, well... his dad never did. Plus of course, Matt always has the nagging feeling that he’s not spending enough time with Molly. As long as he’s working, he’s probably going to feel that way, and anyway, none of her friends gets the bus.

‘Everyone?’ he asks lightly. ‘Really? Everyone on the entire planet is going to this movie? They’re going to need a lot more popcorn.’

‘Now you’re just being silly,’ Molly says, rolling her eyes. ‘All the girls in my class.’

‘Ohh,’ Matt says, smiling across at her. ‘I see. All of the girls in your class are going to see a movie on a school night!’

‘I’ve been good,’ she says with the air of a poker player laying down a five-card flush. ‘My room is tidy, my homework is done, and I’ve even done my chores!’

‘Wow, you’ve even done your chores huh?’ Matt says lightly. ‘It’s not about you being good, Molls; it’s about you having a late night on a school night.’ He drums his fingers on the steering wheel. ‘What time does the movie end?’

‘Eleven,’ Molly admits, wincing.

Matt blows out his cheeks. ‘What do you have the morning after?’

‘Physical education,’ she says, perking up a little. ‘Please...’

Matt tuts and looks at her sideways. ‘What did we say about the whining?’

‘That if I whine, then you’ll whine back,’ Molly sing-songs.

‘You’ll have to have a nap when you get home,’ Matt says seriously, parking the car. ‘And an early night the day after. Deal?’

‘Deal!’ Molly chirps, leaning across to kiss his cheek.

‘Have a good day squirt,’ Matt says rustling her hair.



It’s still a little awkward at work. Hell, some of the old street dinosaurs are still iffy about female officers let alone anyone else. But Matt’s found that the outright hostility has been fairly limited to comments, mostly about the showers or attractive young male officers watching themselves. The less obvious hostility... well. Matt’s been a cop for more than ten years, it’ll take more than Playboys in his desk and rubbers in his locker to shake him.

And on the other hand, he gets plenty of cheerful greetings as he walks through the station: more from the female officers than the male, and more from the younger officers than the older ones. But hell, he’s not here to justify himself to bigots or educate them on their ignorance. He knows from experience that when it does go bad even the homophobes do turn out to his calls for backup. When it really hits the fan, ‘cop’ trumps ‘fag’ and as long as that’s the case, Matt doesn’t care what they think.



‘Hey, I got you a coffee,’ Marian says, stopping by Matt’s desk. ‘Cappuccino with three sugars, right?’

‘That’s me,’ he agrees, watching her sit down and taking the proffered coffee. ‘So what’s this in aid of? I have noticed that nothing good starts with someone randomly buying me a coffee.’

She shrugs and sips her own coffee. ‘So suspicious, Matt!’ She points a finger at him. ‘Maybe that’s why you’re single.’

Matt nearly rolls his eyes. ‘Maybe I like being single.’

‘You’re a good-looking guy Matt,’ she says winningly. ‘You’ve got a good job, a nice place, a lovely daughter. You have so much to offer.’

‘But I’m not offering,’ he protests.

Marian shakes her head. ‘Well, you should be. My nephew is the sweetest, cutest guy; he’s a little young, admittedly, but he’s very mature for his age.’

Matt laughs and accidentally blows froth over his hand. ‘A little young?’ he asks, licking the froth off his hand. ‘Marian, are trying to get your nephew a sugar daddy?’

‘The money we make?’ she scoffs. ‘Wil’s a doctor! I just think you’d be a really good match.’

Matt shrugs and leans forward. ‘It’s very nice of you to think of me, Marian, but I’m not dating. Molly’s got to be my priority, not dating.’

‘Wil loves kids, he’s a paediatrician,’ Marian protests.

Matt laughs again and shakes his head. ‘No, it’s very kind of you, but no.’

‘Well, if you change your mind, let me know,’ she says, disappointed.



‘You’re early,’ Molly complains as Matt helps her into her coat.

‘You complain when I’m early, you complain when I’m late,’ Matt says lightly. ‘The sitter doesn’t mind.’

Molly rolls her eyes. ‘I was talking to Jamie. I think he might be my new boyfriend.’

‘Oh really?’ Matt asks, picking up her bag and taking her hand. ‘I don’t believe he’s asked me for permission.’

‘We’re not getting married!’ she says as they walk outside. ‘Kids can’t get married, Matt.’

‘Oh okay. But you can have a boyfriend?’ he checks, letting her into the car.

‘Anyone can have a boyfriend.’ Molly buckles in and kicks her feet as the car pulls out into traffic. ‘Matt.’

‘Hmm?’

Molly looks at him sideways. ‘Can we get pizza?’

‘We had pizza on Saturday,’ Matt points out. ‘Thai food?’

‘Yes please!’

Without taking his eyes off the road, Matt leans across and kisses her on the head. ‘Okay kidder.’

Molly bumps her shoulder against him. ‘Thanks Matt.’

‘You know I love you Molls, right?’

Molly rolls her eyes. ‘Matt!’ she groans. ‘You’re so embarrassing.’

‘I’m going to keep asking until you tell me,’ he says cheerfully.

‘Of course I know, you’re always telling me!’ She rests her head against his shoulder. ‘You’re so soppy.’

‘Yeah,’ Matt agrees. ‘Sorry about that.’

Molly smiles to herself.

The end.