Maeve's POV

I smoothed down my dress for what seemed like the millionth time. Why was I so nervous? I was just meeting my husbands illegitimate son. What's there to be afraid of?

Seth thought it would be a good idea to introduce me to John at an early stage, so he would not come to resent me. Now, I had asked him how Stella felt about that and he had repeatedly assured me that she was more than happy about it. For that very reason, my nervousness spiked. I would say I was good with kids, not the best but they did seem to like me most of the times.

Seth caught hold on my hand that was fiddling with the design on my skirt.

"Hey, he'll love you." His big blue eyes hypnotised me, making me believe him. I simply nodded and took in a deep breath.

Stella arrived with John, all of two feet five inches, dressed in a cute batman outfit that made my heart warm. John had taken after his mother but there were some features that resembled Seth as well. He was an adorable child. With a cute button nose and plum cheeks.

"Hey, John." I smiled, a genuine one, not the one I had practised infront of the mirror the entire morning.

"Hello." He pushed his tiny hand forward for a handshake and I almost let out a giggle. He had Seth's mannerisms even though he had never seen him, until a few days back.

Both Seth and I had gone out to shop for a few toys to make the apartment a little more child friendly than the cold bachelor pad it looked like. There were all assortments of trains, cars and building blocks in our living room. Seth had even picked out toys he liked as a child to perhaps establish a bridge. Not that there needed to be one.

John was all smiles and hugs as Seth came forward. He leaped into Seth's awaited arms and squealed with joy as he picked him up and twirled him around. Nothing more appealing than seeing your husband handle a child, even if it wasn't yours. I brought my attention to the mother and gave her a pleasant look.

"I hope we can make a new start as well." I extended the olive branch, "For John's sake."

"Yes, for my son." I ignored the assertive tone, I understood it to a certain extent, I guess. She might feel like I was taking him away from her but that wasn't and never could be my intention.

"Are these for me?!" Young John asked with shining eyes, taking in all the toys.

"Yes, Auntie Maeve and I went out to pick the best ones out for you." Seth was hunched over talking to him.

"John, what do you say?" Stella interjected.

"Thank you!" He screamed and picked up a box of cars and ripped open the packaging. I went and crouched beside Seth. John looked up momentarily, then at Seth. It looked like a scary question was making it's way out of his tiny mouth.

"Who are you?" He was looking straight at me.

"I had told you, John, she is Auntie Maeve, your daddys friend." Stella's mother voice was a stark contrast to her entire personality but I guess I understood that as well.

"Are you going to take me away from Mommy?" His accusing eyes confused me, what did that even mean?

"John!" Stella gasped and Seth jumped in and helped out, "No, John, why would you think that?"

"Marcus said he doesn't see his mommy anymore because his daddy has a new friend."

"I would never do that, John, I just wanted to be your friend."

"My friend?" His eyebrows scrunched up in and his lips fell into a confused frown.

"Yes, see I don't have a lot of friends and your Daddy told me what a good boy you are." John's face brightened up at the praise and his hands stilled from playing with the cars.

"So, can I be your friend?" John gave me a full blown grin, his front teeth missing and nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes." His words slipped, he come towards me and placed three cars in my lap. I looked up at Stella for assistance and she just smiled, a normal smile that freaked me out.

"He shares his toys with his friends." John looked at his mom then went back to playing with the toys.

"Thank you, buddy." I said, mimicking his gestures with the toys. Seth joined in and helped him build a makeshift race course for all the cars, I took a step back, letting him bound with him. I was happy, it appeared to be a successful meet.

I left the father and son to play. Stella was seated on a sofa not far, keeping an eye out for him.

"Thank you for agreeing to this, Stella." She looked at me for a second and nodded but then her expression changed.

"Tim!" She screamed, I followed her eyes and saw what caught her attention. Seth's hand was bleeding and it wasn't a small scratch, it was a big gash oozing blood that he was covering with his other hand.

We both rushed at his corner and John's eyes were filled with tears.

"I am sorry." He cried out, his chin trembling. I looked at him and shook my head.

"I'm fine, John, see," Seth ginned at him, easing his tension.

"It isn't your fault, honey. Daddy should've been more careful." I looked at Seth with an I-don't-believe-this expression.

"How did you manage this?" I asked, as Stella inspected the wound.

"The coffee table has a sharp edge, I got a little carried away." I shook my head at him.

"Guess we have to Seth proof this apartment."

"These need stitches," Stella concluded, "Mrs Rose, could you please tell me where the emergency kit is?" She looked like she knew what she was talking about and Seth seemed to trust her as well so I didn't interfere.

"Does it really?" Seth was casually looking at his wound, "I hope your skills have improved over the past years." Stella laughed as they shared the inside joke.

"I have been practising," She helped him up, "On stuffed toys, how different could it be?"

"Stella went to nursing school briefly and did a bunch of my patch up stitches back in college." Seth cleared, I just nodded. I had no idea that stitches were so common.

"Well, I can look after John for a bit, you handle the other child." Stella laughed with me, we shared a look of agreement.

Both disappeared after Mrs Rose and I turned my attention to John who was very quiet.

"John, he is fine. Big boys can handle it, he'll be okay." I assured him, he seemed lost in his own world.

"We were just playing."

"I know and such things happen, no one is blaming you, come I'll play with you." I took Seth's place.

"You want to play with me?" His eyes were wide with shock.

"Of course I do, it looks like so much fun. I was worried you wouldn't want to play with me."

"No! Here." He placed some cars in my hand and explained the made up game to me with excitement. I was happy to see his smile.

A few minutes passed with ease, and John was a really good conversationalist for a kid of his age. He spoke and played with me. He was a great kid, better than any I had seen.

Seth and Stella returned laughing about something, John's face fell again upon seeing his bandaged hand.

"See, all good." Seth wiggled his fingers and came towards John with a mysterious grin. He scooped in and tickled John's side, he was all giggles.

Lunch was set. We all sat on the dinning table and Mrs Rose brought out the food.
Stella had before hand told us what he liked and food was prepared to match those instructions.

Yet, when the bowl of pasta was before him, little John scrunched his nose.

"You promised you would try." Stella gave John a look that he nodded at.
"What happened? Does he not like mushrooms?" I asked, desperately trying to remember if it was mentioned before.

"No, no, it's the black olives." I was a little taken aback by that.
"If that's the case, you can have your Daddy's he doesn't like them as well so his doesn't have any." Over the course if time and countless meals together I had picked up on plenty of Seth's eating habits and it made me happy that he had eaten the black olives when I had cooked for him the first time.

But, apparently, my new knowledge was a surprise to Seth for he was staring at me bewildered.
"I pay attention, Mister." I laughed, quickly exchanging the bowls and patting John's hair. 
"Thank you!"

Lunch ended without any further bumps and unfortunately it was time for the guests to leave. John's pouting made saying goodbye a million times harder.

"Everything okay?" Seth asked.
"Yeah." Was it really?

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