your hand forever’s all I want {private}

Mia is a recent college graduate, working a terrible part time job while searching for a full time job. Things aren't going so well for her, and one day she comes home to the landlord of her apartment kicking her out since she was late more than once on rent. Your character , her neighbor who Mia often speaks to in the apartment , sometimes even babysitting his child (a single dad, still getting over the death of his wife a year prior, and struggling with taking care of the child) overhears the conversation and offers to let her stay in his spare room in his apartment while she gets back on her feet. Mia is eternally grateful, and soon the living arrangement works out well. Since y/c is often busy with his job, he has a hard time balancing that and his child. Mia ends up helping out a lot. Taking the kid to school/preschool, making dinner, cleaning up the apartment etc. Mia even brings a sort of light to the apartment, to their lives, and y/c who lost himself in his work due to grief begins to open up again, and learns what he's missing. A connection blooms between the adults, a friendship, and eventually a romance.

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I just want this to be a cute little romance plot with your character being a little busy and broken and struggling after losing his wife, but still being a kind and good dad to his kid. We can throw in complications like Mia having a BF or her eventually moving out so to a job far away, etc. but I'd love for it to be a slow burn. Everything about the child is completely up to you but I don't mind roleplaying them if you need me to!

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Mia;;

There are some days that start out so well, and you feel optimistic and happy. But then there's that one small turning point that brings everything crashing down. For Mia, it was one of the customers she had at one of her tables at the restaurant. Yes, recent college graduate with a bachelors and masters to be an elementary school teacher was a mere waitress. She'd had the job for a couple of years and expected to quit once graduating and getting a better paying job , but nope.

So some teenage guys came barreling in around the last hour of her shift. They smelled a little funky, and attempted to get her to serve them alcohol. Of course none were old enough - but they seemed to already be drunk or high or both. Mia put up with the rowdiness with a fake smile on her face, until they started making some rather unpleasant comments when they thought she couldn't hear them. So, Mia eventually spun around and told them off. And her manager fired her on the spot.

Mia was glad to go though, if her manager was gonna let people talk like that to workers, perfect. Panic didn't really settle in until the bus ride home. She was already late on rent, and now she had no income. Finding a job was so so hard. Looking forwards to taking a hot shower and curling up in bed with a book, she dragged herself into her building and up the elevator to her floor.

As if things couldn't get worse, there was a note on the door saying she needed to leave the apartment immediately. At that moment, the landlord exited her neighbors apartment, having collected her rent when he saw Mia. He gave her an apologize look. "Mr. Johnson please - I know I'm late. I just got fired today. I have a couple hundred right now just please - I need a little bit longer," she begged, starting to go after him as he headed to the elevator.

"Mia I've asked for rent twice already. You owe me two grand. A couple hundred is not going to cut it. I'm going to have to ask you to move your things as soon as tomorrow morning or I will take action. Leave your keys in an envelope on the counter of your apartment" he stepped into the elevator and the doors started to close. "Please Mr. Johnson!"she called one last time but the doors shut.

Mia kicked the wall in frustration and put her head in her hands, screaming into them. Where was she supposed to go? Her parents were across the country, and none of her friends had any room to spare in their apartments. She fumbled for her keys to get inside, wanting to be inside her apartment before she had a meltdown.

[i haven’t been able to figure out how to use a fancypost since the site changed so I never bothered with it or faceclaims but here’s an idea of Mia: Mia - fc Olivia Munn (but younger) ]

Tears were already beginning to form in her eyes as she got the key into the lock, turning it and pushing the door open. But that’s when she heard the voice of her neighbor, Louis, call out to her. This was the last thing she needed, for this embarrassing moment to be witnessed by someone. Mia didn’t turn around at first, only because she needed a moment to compose herself and not look like she was on the verge of bursting into sobs. With a small sigh she turned around, glancing over Louis holding his daughter. Louis had been living there already when she moved in a few months ago. He’d been extremely friendly and had always been a good neighbor, just like he was being now.

The brunette nodded as he asked if she’d been fired too. ”It’s not my day today,” she smiled weakly, and reached up to wipe at her eyes for a moment. When he asked if she wanted dinner, Mia looked a little surprised. She was about to decline when Naomi squealed her name. Mia blinked at the tears again forming at the sweetness of the child, and she stepped across the hall to meet the child’s open arms. The child for some reason adored Mia, but she supposed it was because she spoiled her a bit whenever she babysat for Louis. ”Dinner would actually be really great, Louis. Thank you,” she eventually answered and glanced down at Naomi. ”Hello to you too,” she said with a small smile.

Mia thanked Louis and stepped inside, holding onto Naomi as she played with her hair. Her worries about being evicted and getting fired began to fade to the back of her mind as she focused on the cheerful little girl. ”Dino nuggets sound perfect. Good for you though Naomi,” she squeezed the child’s shoulder.

Naomi jumped out of Mia’s arms so quickly though as she went to ramble on about her day - specifically coloring animals because she was going to the zoo soon. ”What? The zoo? I’m so jealous,” she exclaimed as she followed her to see what picture she colored. As Mia was presented with it, she grinned. ”Oh wow it’s amazing, Naomi. I love it!” she said as she looked it over. ”I will have to hang it up on my wall, thank you. But hang onto it for now and keep it safe, I’ll bring it home later,” she smiled again before glancing over at Louis who was looking at the two of them, happy.

Mia would be lying if she said she didn’t harbor a crush on her handsome neighbor. But she’d always steered clear because he’d lost his wife not too long ago. She figured it was an off limits thing. Plus, Mia was seeing someone currently anyways. ”My mom always used to cook these in the oven too long and burn them. I hope you’re a good chef, Louis,” she teased.

”Well I guess I’ll have to be the judge of that,” Mia said and went back over near the door just to set her purse there to grab it before she left. Then she returned to the kitchen where Naomi went and settled herself in her booster chair. Mia honestly didn’t think she’d ever seen a child so excited for dinner before. For being a single dad, Louis was doing pretty good at it, and she admired him for it.

Mia headed over to an open seat at the table and sat down. ”Really, you’re chaperoning?” her eyebrows raised a bit. ”I guess I’m not all that surprised but this does mean you’ll have to watch more than one child, so good luck,” she said with a bit of a laugh. ”A water is fine, thank you,” Mia answered, though she waited to eat until Louis came over to the table too, feeling as if that was only polite.

She’d forgotten about her eviction notice until right then, because she realized she would have to move out and away. Mia wouldn’t get to see these two daily anymore, and that didn’t sit well with her. She stared down at her plate sadly for a few moments before sighing and trying not to think about that. ”So besides color animals today, what else did you do at school?” she asked Naomi.

Mia listened to Naomi as she spoke, excitedly talking about what she learned about animals and what they ate. ”Hmm. Well what’s your favorite animal? I’d go with that. Cats are my favorite, so I’d probably pick a leopard or tiger or lion,” she said to Naomi, trying to be helpful but still letting her choose what animal she wanted to get a book on. Mia wanted to offer to take her to the library and look for a book, as she loved the library, but she didn’t know how much longer she’d be in town if she had to leave.

Mia glanced over at Louis as he finally joined them and gave a small smile, nodding as he explained that they had a tradition before they ate. ”Alright,” she said quietly as her attention shifted back to Naomi as she took her turn. Mia smiled bigger when she said she was thankful for her dad, and Mia. She tried not to get too overemotional and just let out a small laugh. ”Thank you,” she said and then realized they were both looking at her expectantly. She cleared her throat. ”Well. I had a really bad day today and I’m thankful for the two of you for inviting me over and making it not so bad of a day,” she spoke quietly but genuinely. ”And chicken nuggets. I’m really thankful for chicken nuggets,” Mia laughed and reached for her water to take a sip, then glanced at Louis to see what he was going to say.

Out of all the things he could have said he was thankful for, Mia did not expect to be one of them. She glanced away, only because she was trying desperately not to cry or get emotional. But it was hard and she teared up, so she quickly wiped at her eyes. Then she turned back to her food and started to eat the chicken and mac and cheese. Mia hadn’t eaten in hours and she didn’t realize how hungry she was until then. So she slowed down her eating to savor the food. Mia tried to avoid glancing Louis’s way, only because he’d looked at her differently before and it made her feel flushed. She had no idea what that was about and she’d prefer to not think about it.

Mia quieted as she got sucked back into her thoughts about what on earth she was going to do. She might be able to crash with her friend for a while, but of course that would only be temporary. Things weren’t all that serious with the guy she was dating so that was most definitely not an option. Looks like she would be making a call to her parents later to tell them she was a failure. Mia sighed and finished her food, leaning back in the chair, glancing at the both of them.

Mia helped him take the dishes to the sink, and followed him over. While he cleaned them she grabbed a dry dish rag to wipe down the plates, and started making a pile as she didn’t know where everything went. Mia figured she should at least help since he’d invited her over. The girl was all about being courteous and polite towards others. She absolutely hated being mean.

Mia glanced his way when he asked what she was going to do, and her shoulders dropped, as if she was giving up. A sigh escaped her before she replied, in a quiet voice, ”I don’t know,” she admitted, looking away from him as she set a plate down on the pile she already made. ”It all happened so fast today I ...god I don’t know,” she bit her lip and turned back around to lean against his kitchen counter.

Mia had been staring at the ground, trying to think of a plan since she really hadn’t had a moment to think of something. But her head snapped up when Louis suggested that he stayed there with them. ”Louis I couldn’t,” she immediately shook her head. She couldn’t intrude on their family, and as much as they all adored each other, she couldn’t...

But why not? There weren’t much other options for her, and Mia didn’t want to have to run home to her parents with a tail between her legs. She bit her lip again in thought, watching as he tied his hair back. Mia had never outrightedly said it, but she loved his hair. It was so much nicer than hers. She shook her head out of that thought, focusing on the proposition he was giving her. Mia didn’t want to have to be a burden but it would only be temporary.

”You really mean it? You’ll let me stay while I pick myself back up?” it was extremely overly kind of him, Mia had no idea how she was ever going to repay him back. Babysitting Naomi didn’t seem enough to her. ”I just don’t want to feel like I’m intruding on you guys...”

Mia mostly just stared at him in shock, not understanding where all of this sentiment was coming from him. She had made a few other friends while here, but none who seemed to care as much as Louis did. But she thought about it, and if things had been reversed and it was him getting kicked out, she’d have done the same exact thing for him. When had she gotten so attached?

Mia gave him a grateful look, about to hug him or something, tell him how much it meant, but Naomi came out of the bathroom, ready for bed, so she figured she’d wait until she was all settled in bed. ”Goodnight Naomi,” she said softly, watching as they headed to her room, but then she followed after and hovered near the doorway. Mia couldn’t really see why he thought he needed help with Naomi, when it seemed he was doing a great job as is, especially now as she watched him tuck her into bed. She moved out of the way of the bedroom door as Louis came back out. ”I fail to see how you’ve been slacking with her. You’re doing way better than my father when I was her age,” she shook her head.

”But whatever you need, it’s the least I can do for you,” Mia spoke quietly since she didn’t want to wake Naomi, and started walking away from the bedrooms. She probably should go for the night anyways - start packing up her things. It looked like it was going to be an all-nighter thing. ”Thank you so much,” she said, expression sincere. ”I promise not to be a mess, and I wont be an annoying roommate I swear,” she joked softly and then glanced at the time over the stove. ”I will get out of your hair now though, for the night,”

Mia loved the way he said her name for some reason, it made her feel...she didn’t know how to describe the feeling. But she was glad to hear she would never annoy him. She tilted her head as she listened to him rant to her, which Mia didn’t mind him ranting at all, so she was surprised he apologized for talking to her.

”Honestly I can’t see you failing her at all. You are an amazing father, and that little girl loves you. I really don’t think you have to worry about a thing. Not until she’s a teenager maybe,” Mia said quietly with a laugh.

”And don’t apologize for talking to me. I’m here to listen,” she watched as a part of his hair fell back into his face, and before Mia could stop herself she was tucking it back for him. ”Thank you. I think I’ll be okay. I’ll probably be an emotional mess and you don’t need to see that,” she acted as if she didn’t just put his hair back or anything. Mia then went over and hugged him quickly and gratefully. ”I’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you so much, I’ll make it all up to you somehow,” she grinned and then grabbed her stuff, waving as she exited his apartment, and heading across the hall to hers for what was going to be the last time. She unlocked her door and stepped inside, immediately heading to her couch and laying down.