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"Alright, are you two all ready to sleep now?  We have some plans for tomorrow." I smiled, having finished tucking in Anya and Adam tightly underneath the covers and now sitting on Adam's side.

"Are we going to the park Fwank?" Adam asked, almost inaudible due to his shyness.

"Movies F…Fu…Fua…" Anya's face screwed up in concentration as she tried to pronounce my name, a smile forming on my face as she did so.

"You can call me Daddy if you like." My voice trailed off as I thought about the side-effects.  Anya and maybe even Adam might get the wrong idea and think I really was their father.  I knew for sure that Flo was going to flip out if she found out.  Maybe they wouldn't call me daddy in front of her and I would be in the clear.

Anya and Adam stared at me for a moment before the little three year old girl burst into a fit of giggles and nodding.  "Okay Daddy.  Movies?"

Even though I knew I would get into trouble for being called such a name, it still made my body fill with warmth and almost a sense of pride.  Kids were the one thing I really wanted and caused me to momentarily think about dating a woman.  It was a depressing thought to know that I would never have my own biological children, but I settled with the thought that I'd be able to adopt when I found the right guy.

"No, not the movies or park.  We're going to go the zoo!" My exclamation made grins form on both of their faces.  An innocent glow radiated from them, and I could just tell they would have a blast.

I stood up and faced the bed once more, extremely glad I had the extra bedroom.  Ray's cousin really did get me an excellent deal.  Leaning over, I kissed Adam's forehead before walking over to the other side to kiss Anya.

"Daddy...could you sing a song?" Adam's quiet voice asked as I leaned over.  I looked at him before nodding and standing up.

"What would you like to hear?" I asked, pulling out my guitar case from the corner.  It had been a while since I had played, a thin layer of dust on the case.  I popped it open, grabbing out my old beat up guitar.

"Well?"  Both of them stared at me blankly, causing me to chuckle.

I sat on Adam's side again and began to tune up the guitar.  It wasn't too far off, which really surprised me.  I had been expecting all sorts of off sounds. Once tuned, I strummed out a few chords, coming up with a song to play.  Eventually I settled on "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.  It had always been one of my favourite songs, and I felt that it was appropriate.  I was truly happy.  Sure, I didn't have everything that I wanted, but I had loved ones here, enough food, and a nice home.  It was simple, but perfect.

I set the guitar back in the corner when I was done, and went over to kiss Adam and Anya once more.

"Night Daddy…" I heard whispered as I turned off the light.  I never was able to make out which one said it.

---

"I need to pee." Adam stated as we headed through the wild cat exhibit. The lions were lazily watching us as we walked by, their tails flickering slowly back and forth and I considered for a moment if they were sizing us up.

"Okay, we'll go then." I grabbed both of their hands as a larger crowd of people walked by.  The last thing I wanted to do was lose one of Flo's children.

"Alright, we're here." I stood outside of the bathroom, letting go of Adam's hand so he could go.

He stared up at me, his eyes wide.  We stood there, staring at each other awkwardly for a few minutes before I finally asked, "Can you not go by yourself?"  He shook his head no, causing a new array of problems for me.

What was I to do with Anya?  I couldn't take her into the men's bathroom, there was just no way.  I don't know how upset women would get if we all went into the women's bathroom.  I would either be seen as a pervert or the best father in the world.  I could see the first outcome coming true.

"Sir, I'll watch your daughter for you, if you want."

I turned to see a blonde man with the beginnings of a mountain man beard facing us, a kind smile on his face.  My eyes widened, picturing scenarios.  THIS guy had to be a pervert.  Who else would offer to watch someone's kid, just a random stranger.  Although my mind was having a panic attack, I didn't feel as if he was unsafe.  I just knew that I would be in so much trouble if Anya got abducted because I trusted a stranger with her.

"Here," he shoved a wallet into my hands, along with a ring of keys.  "Those have everything.  My I.D., keys, cash, cards.  You can return them when you're done." His blue eyes twinkled and I continued to stare up at him, trying to come up with a response.  This was just so weird!

I finally nodded, handing Anya over to the care of the random man.  I pushed Adam along quickly, not wanting to leave her there for any longer than it had to be.  While inside, terrible thoughts kept entering my mind and I couldn't believe that I had left her in some random man's care.  That was just stupid of me and I deserved something to go wrong with my care.

As Adam and I shuffled out of the bathroom, Anya was picking flowers and giving them to the man, who was in turn weaving them into a circle.  He glanced up and smiled before placing the crown onto Anya's strawberry blonde head.

"Um…Thank you….." I muttered, handing the man's possession's back to him.  I guess I had gotten lucky.

"No problem.  I'm Bob Bryar and I'm actually new to the area.  I'm the new kindergarten teacher for Dolores Hill, if you've ever heard of it."

"Kindergarten teacher?!"  I almost yelled, I was so surprised.  The man for one thing did not look like he would be the type to teach little children.  It also explained why he so willingly watched over Anya for me.

"Yeah, I didn't tell you before because I'd be shocked if you'd believed that." He kind of shrugged before looking at the ground.  "It's sad that our world can't have nice people anymore."

I nodded slowly, attempting to let it all soak in.  "I'm sorry for thinking you were a perv.  I'm Frank Iero."

Bob raised his head, smiling again.  "And these two are your children?  How old?"
"I'm actually more watching them for a friend.  And Adam here is four and Anya is three."

Bob bent down to be level with Adam, the smile having not left his face.  "So I should expect to see this one next year."  Adam gave a small smile in return before turning his face into my leg from embarrassment.

He stood back up before looking all around.  Finally he asked, "You don't happen to know a good but cheap place to rent do you?  I had already looked around Dolores Hill some, but it was all pretty expensive, and I can't afford expensive right now.  My wife and I…we're going through a divorce.  It's why I'm out here now."

"You can stay with me." I blurted out before blushing slightly.  I hadn't even thought about what I had just said.  I didn't know Bob Bryar, we just met.  He could be a terrible roommate.  Plus, how would it look to Gerard if a man had suddenly become my renter.  It couldn't be good, but I had already offered.

Bob looked at me before laughing.  "You've got to be kidding.  You don't know me though!"

It was my turn to kind of shrug.  Despite all the negatives, I did have to say that I felt a good vibe about Bob.  He just seemed genuine.

"Well…." He paused, coming up with a decision.   "I'll just be temporary.  I don't wanna intrude all that much."

I nodded once more, before taking in a breath.  "I'm also...um…gay."  He needed to know.  He was staying with me, it was just a fact.

"Alright?  And I'm straight.  Your point?" Bob grinned before holding out his hand.
"Welcome to the family," I reached out, shaking his hand, excited about having company once more.

Description
"Alright, are you two all ready to sleep now?  We have some plans for tomorrow." I smiled, having finished tucking in Anya and Adam tightly underneath the covers and now sitting on Adam's side.

"Are we going to the park Fwank?" Adam asked, almost inaudible due to his shyness.

"Movies F…Fu…Fua…" Anya's face screwed up in concentration as she tried to pronounce my name, a smile forming on my face as she did so.

"You can call me Daddy if you like." My voice trailed off as I thought about the side-effects.  Anya and maybe even Adam might get the wrong idea and think I really was their father.  I knew for sure that Flo was going to flip out if she found out.  Maybe they wouldn't call me daddy in front of her and I would be in the clear.

Anya and Adam stared at me for a moment before the little three year old girl burst into a fit of giggles and nodding.  "Okay Daddy.  Movies?"

Even though I knew I would get into trouble for being called such a name, it still made my body fill with warmth and almost a sense of pride.  Kids were the one thing I really wanted and caused me to momentarily think about dating a woman.  It was a depressing thought to know that I would never have my own biological children, but I settled with the thought that I'd be able to adopt when I found the right guy.

"No, not the movies or park.  We're going to go the zoo!" My exclamation made grins form on both of their faces.  An innocent glow radiated from them, and I could just tell they would have a blast.

I stood up and faced the bed once more, extremely glad I had the extra bedroom.  Ray's cousin really did get me an excellent deal.  Leaning over, I kissed Adam's forehead before walking over to the other side to kiss Anya.

"Daddy...could you sing a song?" Adam's quiet voice asked as I leaned over.  I looked at him before nodding and standing up.

"What would you like to hear?" I asked, pulling out my guitar case from the corner.  It had been a while since I had played, a thin layer of dust on the case.  I popped it open, grabbing out my old beat up guitar.

"Well?"  Both of them stared at me blankly, causing me to chuckle.

I sat on Adam's side again and began to tune up the guitar.  It wasn't too far off, which really surprised me.  I had been expecting all sorts of off sounds. Once tuned, I strummed out a few chords, coming up with a song to play.  Eventually I settled on "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.  It had always been one of my favourite songs, and I felt that it was appropriate.  I was truly happy.  Sure, I didn't have everything that I wanted, but I had loved ones here, enough food, and a nice home.  It was simple, but perfect.

I set the guitar back in the corner when I was done, and went over to kiss Adam and Anya once more.

"Night Daddy…" I heard whispered as I turned off the light.  I never was able to make out which one said it.

---

"I need to pee." Adam stated as we headed through the wild cat exhibit. The lions were lazily watching us as we walked by, their tails flickering slowly back and forth and I considered for a moment if they were sizing us up.

"Okay, we'll go then." I grabbed both of their hands as a larger crowd of people walked by.  The last thing I wanted to do was lose one of Flo's children.

"Alright, we're here." I stood outside of the bathroom, letting go of Adam's hand so he could go.

He stared up at me, his eyes wide.  We stood there, staring at each other awkwardly for a few minutes before I finally asked, "Can you not go by yourself?"  He shook his head no, causing a new array of problems for me.

What was I to do with Anya?  I couldn't take her into the men's bathroom, there was just no way.  I don't know how upset women would get if we all went into the women's bathroom.  I would either be seen as a pervert or the best father in the world.  I could see the first outcome coming true.

"Sir, I'll watch your daughter for you, if you want."

I turned to see a blonde man with the beginnings of a mountain man beard facing us, a kind smile on his face.  My eyes widened, picturing scenarios.  THIS guy had to be a pervert.  Who else would offer to watch someone's kid, just a random stranger.  Although my mind was having a panic attack, I didn't feel as if he was unsafe.  I just knew that I would be in so much trouble if Anya got abducted because I trusted a stranger with her.

"Here," he shoved a wallet into my hands, along with a ring of keys.  "Those have everything.  My I.D., keys, cash, cards.  You can return them when you're done." His blue eyes twinkled and I continued to stare up at him, trying to come up with a response.  This was just so weird!

I finally nodded, handing Anya over to the care of the random man.  I pushed Adam along quickly, not wanting to leave her there for any longer than it had to be.  While inside, terrible thoughts kept entering my mind and I couldn't believe that I had left her in some random man's care.  That was just stupid of me and I deserved something to go wrong with my care.

As Adam and I shuffled out of the bathroom, Anya was picking flowers and giving them to the man, who was in turn weaving them into a circle.  He glanced up and smiled before placing the crown onto Anya's strawberry blonde head.

"Um…Thank you….." I muttered, handing the man's possession's back to him.  I guess I had gotten lucky.

"No problem.  I'm Bob Bryar and I'm actually new to the area.  I'm the new kindergarten teacher for Dolores Hill, if you've ever heard of it."

"Kindergarten teacher?!"  I almost yelled, I was so surprised.  The man for one thing did not look like he would be the type to teach little children.  It also explained why he so willingly watched over Anya for me.

"Yeah, I didn't tell you before because I'd be shocked if you'd believed that." He kind of shrugged before looking at the ground.  "It's sad that our world can't have nice people anymore."

I nodded slowly, attempting to let it all soak in.  "I'm sorry for thinking you were a perv.  I'm Frank Iero."

Bob raised his head, smiling again.  "And these two are your children?  How old?"
"I'm actually more watching them for a friend.  And Adam here is four and Anya is three."

Bob bent down to be level with Adam, the smile having not left his face.  "So I should expect to see this one next year."  Adam gave a small smile in return before turning his face into my leg from embarrassment.

He stood back up before looking all around.  Finally he asked, "You don't happen to know a good but cheap place to rent do you?  I had already looked around Dolores Hill some, but it was all pretty expensive, and I can't afford expensive right now.  My wife and I…we're going through a divorce.  It's why I'm out here now."

"You can stay with me." I blurted out before blushing slightly.  I hadn't even thought about what I had just said.  I didn't know Bob Bryar, we just met.  He could be a terrible roommate.  Plus, how would it look to Gerard if a man had suddenly become my renter.  It couldn't be good, but I had already offered.

Bob looked at me before laughing.  "You've got to be kidding.  You don't know me though!"

It was my turn to kind of shrug.  Despite all the negatives, I did have to say that I felt a good vibe about Bob.  He just seemed genuine.

"Well…." He paused, coming up with a decision.   "I'll just be temporary.  I don't wanna intrude all that much."

I nodded once more, before taking in a breath.  "I'm also...um…gay."  He needed to know.  He was staying with me, it was just a fact.

"Alright?  And I'm straight.  Your point?" Bob grinned before holding out his hand.
"Welcome to the family," I reached out, shaking his hand, excited about having company once more.