We Figured It Out

"Thank you so much for watching her!" my dear friend and coworker, Sandra, thanked me as she handed over her 11 month old daughter. It was both our days off off but she worked in production for BBC news and was called in last minute this morning leaving her without any childcare arrangements.
"No worries, it's always a pleasure to take care of little Miss Emma." I assured her, quickly grabbing the lavender colored diaper bag she was shoving my way.
"Goodbye, Emma. Be good for auntie Zoe, alright?" she spoke to Emma before saying goodbye to us both.

With Emma on my hip, I made my way to the bedroom where I set the heavy diaper bag. Sandra was a first time mom, so I'm sure she packed everything but the crib. Emma was a lovely baby, I had taken care of her before a few times. Mostly for much needed date nights for her parents.

"What do you want to do first, Emma?" I asked the cherub faced baby in my arms, "I know! Let's read some books, yeah?" I suggested to the mostly silent little one that squealed at the mention of books.

After Emma's afternoon nap, I decided we'd been couped up inside my flat long enough and opted for some time at the park. She passed out after her lunch so I knew she wouldn't be hungry and the park is just two blocks away anyway. I grabbed a fruit pouch from her diaper bag and put it in my purse just in case.

After a quick diaper change, we headed out the door and walked to the park. Whenever I took care of Emma, this was our favorite place to be since it was within walking distance and plenty of green space to play on. The excited little one clapped once the park came to view and shot me a big smile that melted my heart.

"Alright, little one, want to go on the swings?" I proposed to Emma who's eyes immediately lit up letting me know she was more than up for it.

I placed Emma in the baby swings and pushed so she began to lightly sway. Her light brown hair flipping with the slight wind, her green eyes sparkling with the bright sun above us. She was stunning in her fair skin and flushed cheeks.

It seemed we had been at the park for just a short period of time but when I checked the time 2 hours had passed and it was almost time for Emma's bottle. I carried Emma high on my hip as we began to walk towards the sidewalk. On our way across the lawn closest to the sidewalk, I spotted a perfectly round dandelion. Imagining the face of amazement Emma would surely get as we blew on it, I crouched down and picked it up.

"You see this, Emma? It's a dandelion. All those pretty feathery things will fly if we blow on it. Wanna give it a try?" I asked the tiny brunette still tightly attached to my hip.

The infant nodded as I placed the flower before us. As a child, my dad always taught me to make a wish before blowing on one. To not let the tradition die, I made a wish. It pained me to make this wish, but I allowed myself to do so since no one else would know. I wished to see Niall again. I hadn't seen or heard from him since that brief meeting at the awards last week. Part of me thought he would contact me, the other part understood that he was happy with someone else now.

With one slow blow, I made every single floret float through the wind making Emma's eyes widen at the scene before her. She reached out her tiny arms trying to catch the remains of the dandelion. I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle as we continued to walk.

"Zoe!" I heard from behind us, a familiar voice stopping me dead on my tracks.
"Niall. What are you doing here?" I asked, a small smile trying to form. What a coincidence I had just wished on the dandelion to see him again.
"Was driving through and saw you... And this beauty here. She's gorgeous." Niall said before stepping forward and caressing Emma's cheek with his fingers.
"Thank you. Her name is Emma. Emma, say hello." I told the baby, picking up her hand and helping her wave.
"Hello, Emma. Beautiful name for a beautiful girl." Niall directed at her, lightly stroking her chin before continuing, "How old is she?" he asked with an expression I couldn't quite pin point.
"She's 11 months old." I answered and saw him look at the ground for a moment, apparently thinking hard about something.
"Zoe... Is she.. Is she mine?" he asked me taking me by surprise.
"What? No, Niall. She's not mine either. I'm babysitting" I cleared up amused that he'd think I'd hide from him if we had a child.
"Oh. For a moment there I thought she was yours and mine." he stated, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"You think I would have hidden that from you?" I asked feeling slightly offended.
"Well, no, but I still felt a bit of excitement that she could have been ours." he confessed, placing his hands inside the pockets of his jeans and looking down as his cheeks became the same shade of red as Emma's cheeks.
"You would have been excited?" I asked unsure of where this conversation was going.
"Yeah... " he stated, "It was always something I thought we would get to do one day." he finished off. His words making my heart flutter.
"Niall... I... I have to go." I blurted out that last part. This conversation was too much and too sudden for me at the moment.
"Zoe, I'm sorry I'm being too forward. I'm just... I just want to be friends ok?" Niall assured but the phrase 'just friends' stung more than I thought it would.
"Ok, friends." I accepted and bounced a restless Emma on my hip. Perhaps she was sensing the tension.
"Looks like little Emma is ready to go home. My car is parked just over there.." Niall pointed with his thumb towards the street.
"Ah, no, it's fine. I live like two blocks away and I don't have her baby seat but thank you." I politely declined.
"Then let me walk you." Niall quickly responded leaving me without excuse so I accepted.

The short walk home was lovely but it held a certain feeling I couldn't pin point. Emma seemed to be in love with Niall and Niall with Emma. He would stroke her cheek and make funny faces which Emma loved and soon enough she was reaching her small arms out for him. Niall delighted at her actions immediately took her in his arms.

I couldn't help but notice the warm friendly smiles strangers would shoot our way. It made my heart flutter to think that to those strangers we likely looked like a happy family. I bit my lip at the thought that Niall had just confessed it was something he thought about. His words sounding so different than the perception I was left with once we broke up. I felt like I was just another of his flings all along. Niall's candid confession made me second guess my thoughts.

"This is my building." I stated as I approached the modern tower I have called home for a few months now.
"Much better than the dorm room." He joked and swayed lightly on his feet. It gave me the impression he was hoping to be asked up to my flat.
"Thank you for walking us. I'll see you around." I thanked him taking Emma from his arms and turned toward the front entrance of the building.

From behind I could only hear Niall say "Bye, Zoe..."

He didn't think this would be easy, did he?

Notes

Hiiii!!!

So sorry for taking to update this. I do feel terrible but this chapter didn't feel right as it originally ended with Niall and Zoe parting ways at the park. Instead, I decided to sit on it and thus came the part after the park. Either way, I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter and are excited to see what's coming after this. Also, this chapter is what inspired my cover as Zoe wished on Niall with the dandelion and well, yeah. :D

Also hello to the new subscribers!! I appreciate you lovely people so much. My motivation to keep writing. Thank you!