Nanny Interview

It was freezing up in the mountains when I awoke this morning. I'd glanced outside to see everything coated in a thin sheet of new fallen snow. I knew it wouldn't be quite as cold in town, so I packed a change of clothes into my backpack for my trip. I was going for a job interview today in response to an ad that appeared in the paper yesterday looking for a nanny. The pay was good so I just hoped I got the job.

I took a nice hot shower, bundled up warmly, and then headed to town on my harley so that I'd get there an hour before my interview. I stopped in Peggy's and had breakfast and coffee to thaw out. While I was there, I used the bathroom and got changed for my interview. I tried to get my hair to lay as flat as possible and then put on a tiny bit of lip gloss and eyeliner. I was never all that big into makeup.

Once I was ready, I shoved my stuff back in my backpack and then made my way next door to the apartment building. I fidgeted the entire way up the elevator. This was the first job interview I'd been to in a couple of years, so I was trying to remember everything I might need to mention. Let's see...I was certified in first aid and CPR in case anything happened, I could swim if the child wanted to do that, I didn't mind cleaning and I loved to cook, I loved children...I just hoped it was enough. I really needed this job.

I'd managed to work myself into a bit of a panic during the elevator ride, but by the time I reached the door of the apartment I had calmed myself again. I took a slow, steadying breath so that I was calm and collected as I lifted my hand and knocked on the door. I tried to fidget as little as possible while I waited for someone to answer. I tended to fidget a lot; that had nothing to do with nerves and everything to do with an overabundance of energy.

"Evelyn, if you give him any more candy I won't be able to get him to lay down for his nap."

I gave a loud sigh as if I was angry but I was actually a little amused. I'd been worried that when I came back and found Evelyn again that she wouldn't understand why I had a kid or wouldn't have wanted to be around me because of it. A lot of my friends in LA had been like that and as much as I hadn't wanted to look like a pussy it was really unavoidable because I wouldn't leave Ash. It was one of the many reasons I decided to move back here and from the friend standpoint I was glad I had.

Evelyn had brought over her own boyfriend's baby and her and Ash were playing with him.. though Ash had had one too many pieces of candy and wouldn't stop yapping at her and Abel.. as if poor Abel understood anything.. but aside from being annoying like that he really wasn't causing much harm. Candy got to him sure, but he wasn't bouncing off the walls. So I attempted to play one of my playstation games while everyone played and talked among themselves until the knock on the door.

I had taken an ad out in the paper when I first got here because I couldn't handle everything by myself. I wasn't use to being a single father and since I worked construction and had a nice pay I could actually afford a nanny, which Evelyn had suggested. I had offered her the job at first and she'd laughed at me (though I suspected that was mostly because she only wanted Abel) and told me to find someone else who was 'better suited' for the job. I of course didn't know what the hell that meant which was the reason Evelyn was here, to help me interview this woman.

Ash was trying to grab at my video game controller now, so I picked him up around his middle and held him sideways underneath my armpit as I headed over to the door. He was giggling and I was chuckling at him, when I opened the door. The woman there was stunningly gorgeous and vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite place her face to any name I knew. I smiled and held out my hand that wasn't Ash occupied.

"I'm Riley, you must be the woman who's here to interview to be the nanny?"

I nodded for her to come inside and then shut the door behind her. I noticed that I was still hanging on to Ash, staring at this poor woman, and I quickly set him down and he flew back to Abel. The job I'd put out was for a live-in nanny and I wasn't entirely sure that was safe with her looking like that.

"Have a seat." I smiled.

I'd been ecstatic when Riley had come back home. He was someone that I honestly never thought that I'd see again.. but I was pleasantly happy and a little surprised when he introduced me to his son, Ash. At four, the kid had a lot of energy but he was adorable and it was hard not to fall for him right away. I had a weakness for kids, I was finding out. But Riley had a little more trouble being a single father than Jax was.

But I supposed Jax had the help of all of his friends when it came to arranging things and since we'd gotten together I liked to help out as much as I could too between work. I watched Abel whenever I could and while Jax might have thought that I was doing that to help him, it was actually because I was completely in love with Abel and I liked getting to spend as much time with him as I could. But I did help Jax in other ways, like keeping his apartment tidy. He wasn't known for throwing his clothes in the hamper or doing his dishes. I liked to think I came in handy.. whether I was really annoying or not Jax never said.

I was going to introduce Riley and Jax just as soon as both of them could get time off at the same time. Jax was busy with club stuff and work and Riley worked really long hours with his construction. I didn't like sticking my nose into any of the club stuff but if there was someone who would be perfect to join it, it would definitely be Riley. So I was going to stick my neck out for him and suggest it to Jax. Riley had always been a bit of a mean guy in high school so I knew he would fit in and help Jax but I wasn't entirely sure that Riley wouldn't make me look bad for recommending him to Jax.

Anyway, since Riley was so busy I suggested a nanny and he went for it. I came over today to help him interview the woman because he had no idea what he was going to ask. I brought Abel with of course, even though Jax had only run out to take care of a quick errand. I played with Abel and Ash on the floor and fed Ash full of candy just for the nanny. When Riley got up to answer the door I picked Abel off the floor and sat down on the sofa, and chuckled when Ash suddenly showed up beside me to gawk and talk to Abel some more. Unlike Riley though, I recognized who the girl was right away and I gave a large smirk.

"Don't play stupid, Riley. That's Cyn, all growed up. Remember? That pretty girl you use to have a crush on all through high school?" I teased as I set Abel down carefully in my lap. "Hey, Cyn.. been awhile."

The first thing I noticed when the door opened wasn't the man..it was the kid under his arm. I giggled and waved at him because he looked like he was having a blast. I didn't actually look up at the guy til he held his hand out.

"Yes" was all I managed to say in my shock at who it was

I recognized Riley right away, even though it had been years since I'd seen him. I followed him inside and my eyes widened when I saw Evelyn with the kid and a baby.

"Hello Evelyn" I smiled, but my voice was a little wary

If I had thought for a minute that it was actually true Riley had a crush on me in school, my face would have matched my hair. However, Evelyn had always liked to tease me, so I figured this was just another way.

"Um, the advertisement said I'd be taking care of one child if I got the job" I said in confusion, looking at the baby "Not that I mind there being two; I'm just a little confused."

I wasn't surprised to see Evelyn and Riley together. They'd been practically inseparable in school, so I thought it only natural that they'd coupled up after. I smiled again at Riley when he told me to have a seat and I sat down in the arm chair. I waited patiently for the questions to begin.

I chuckled as Ash fell down on his knees, started crying and then came running over to me. I picked him up in my arms and carried his over to the other chair that was beside Cyn's as she sat down. I did too, with Ash in my lap crying into my shoulder. He was actually the one thing that had made me a little softer, and kinder, than I had been when Cyn knew me last.

"Sorry." I apologized for the crying and waited until Ash was finished. When he was, I sat him down in my lap and then pulled his half pulled off sock back onto his foot as I talked to Cyn.. who I couldn't believe was the one applying for this job. Go figure, my high school crush wanted to be my nanny.

"You are." I nodded to her and then pointed down at Ash. "This is the only one you'll be taking care of. That one," I nodded to Abel with a chuckle, "is Evelyn's boyfriend's son. She just stole him for the day. Sorry about the confusion."

I gave her a smile and placed both my arms around Ash to keep him still in my lap. I was nervous about this, even though Evelyn had told me a couple of questions to ask but I didn't know quite how to start all of this. It wasn't like I interviewed people often. But since I wanted to have my own construction company someday.. I had to get use to it.

"So.. questions, right?" I rubbed the top of my shaved head. "What kind of experience do you have with kids and taking care of people?" I shifted slightly. "And.. well, I suppose to want to know what you'd have to do? Well.. taking care of Ash is the most important thing, to be honest. I'm not home a whole lot so having someone here with him.. a familiar person here, is what I really want. But it's a live-in job, I'd prefer that because sometimes I have to run out in the middle of the night and.. well, I'm a guy and it would be nice if I had a little help with the cleaning? I mean I'll do what I can.. I'd hate to make you clean my toilet or anything." I gave her a smile but I was actually a little uncomfortable. "But you don't have to worry about feeding me. Just yourself and Ash. I think that's about it though. Just maintaining the things around here and taking care of Ash."

I heard the tone of Cyn's voice and chuckled a little as I sat Abel up in my lap so that he could see what was going on. Despite having been born too early, he was actually growing well and he loved watching people.

"I'm sorry, Cyn.. I didn't mean that as a tease." I told her with a smile and then shrugged as I turned my attention back to Abel. I was playing with a toy and he was trying to grab it out of my hand and while I seemed like I wasn't paying attention to anything else, I did hear Cyn say something about how the ad had said only one kid. It made me giggle a little because I already knew what she was assuming. I would have done it in her place too. Except I probably would have been a little jealous.

"Riley and I have never been together in that way." I told her absently as I played with Abel. Besides the fact that Abel wasn't Riley's, I wouldn't have let anyone else watch him anyway. Jax could hardly pry the kid away from me let alone anyone else. I was teased to high hell for it, but he was worth it. Besides, I never wanted to leave Jax now that I'd gotten him and he didn't seem like the sort that wanted any more kids.. so Abel, I thought, was going to be the closest I would get.

I listened quietly to Riley and Cyn as I played with Abel and looked up once Riley was done talking. "And what about when you move?" I looked at Riley with an eyebrow raised and then chuckled as I looked over at Cyn. "What I mean is when he finds himself a house.. he'll probably need help cleaning that.. it's not as easy as a tiny apartment, you know? And Riley's too modest to ask for any help." I snorted.

I smiled when Riley apologized for Ash's crying "That's alright, I'm used to it"

Despite my best efforts not to let it, my smile grew larger when Riley said the baby was Evelyn's boyfriend's and she said she and Riley had never been together that way.

"Oh, I see." I chuckled "I uh..had the wrong impression, sorry"

I listened to Riley while he talked and I felt my insides squirm a little at the thought of living with him. I had to remind myself I was just going to be an employee (if I got the job) and not to let myself get excited.

"Well, I've done a lot babysitting for the people living in the mountains. As for taking care of someone on a more full time basis.." I shifted slightly "I took care of my mother for four years right after high school. She...had cancer and got really bad. I had to do everything for her. I cooked, cleaned, helped her bathe, helped her dress..it was a lot like having to take care of a child." I shrugged, trying not to think about it too much

"I'm also certified in first aid, CPR, and infant first aid and CPR. I can swim excellently, so if Ash wants to go to the pool in warmer days, that's no problem. I've been riding horses since I was three; so if he ever wants to do that, I can help there too." I smiled

I looked over at Evelyn and nodded when she talked about Riley getting a house. I chuckled and gave a tiny shrug.

"I love cooking and I actually like cleaning, so that's no problem for me."

I was weird like that. I found cleaning to be relaxing. I looked back at Riley again.

"If I get the job, when would you need me to start? I only ask because I would have to go get my things from my house. I wasn't presumptuous enough to bring a moving van with me for this interview" I giggled

I didn't point it out or laugh or anything, but I did notice that Cyn's smile grew larger when I told her that Abel wasn't mine and Evelyn had a boyfriend. I couldn't help a small grin forming on my face too and I tried to push it away for the time being... it didn't work very well.

"Don't worry about it."

I listened as she told me about how she had babysat a lot and taken care of her mother when she had gotten sick. I left straight after high school so it didn't surprise me that this was all news to me.

"I'm sorry.. about your mom." I gave her a small smile and looked down at Ash. "Well if you don't mind starting at the beginning of next week, I don't think I could find anyone more suited for it. He loves water so he'd like to go swimming but I'm wary about horses." I chuckled. "Maybe when he's older."

I helped Ash climb down off my lap and he ran straight for Cyn this time and leaped on her. I chuckled, taking that as a good sign and then frowned.

"I mean.. I didn't mean to make it sound like you didn't have a choice. You don't have to take it.. but if you'd like to, I get called back to work next week so it'll be best then.. unless you wanted to get settled first. I.. don't really know how all this works."

I too noticed the smile growing on Cyn's face and gave a chuckle before throwing my attention back into Abel again. I didn't want to embarrass her.. but I was more observant than Riley even. I knew Cyn had a thing for him.. she always had. It was just too bad that Riley had been a giant ass before leaving Serenity.

"Wow.. we both like cooking and cleaning. Huh." I laughed. "Maybe I should have gotten a job as a nanny? Hmm.."

It was definitely a tempting thought, considering I knew how much Riley was going to pay Cyn for this. Granted I wouldn't get to be around my Jax or Abel but hell.. that was a nice chunk of money and I had a lot more dreams than just sticking around in an apartment building. Maybe a new car.. a small house.. anything but what I had right now.

"If you need any help moving," I said as I looked at Cyn, "Me and Riley can help and I'm sure Jax wouldn't mind either whenever he gets time."

I returned his small small when he said he was sorry about my mom "Thanks"

I grinned when I realized I had the job. I laughed and caught Ash as he leaped on me, helping him up into my lap.

"Hey there" I grinned at him and then looked at Riley while Ash amused himself by playing with my hair "He's cute. And starting next week is perfect."

I thought about it for a moment after Evelyn made her offer "Hmm..actually, yeah, that'd be great thanks. If we could start bringing my stuff over this weekend, that'll have me settled and everything for when you start work next week and I can just jump right in without having to worry about anything."

I looked up at the knock on the door and yelped slightly as my head was jerked to one side when Ash got his tiny hand tangled in my hair. I chuckled and started trying to help him get detached again.

I still couldn't get over how attached to Abel Evelyn was. He was my kid and I practically had to fight her for him any time I wanted to hold him. It was pretty amusing to me though and I was glad she was so fond of him. Of course, the guys teased the hell out of her for it because they thought she was more like my wife than my girlfriend. She cooked for me, cleaned my place, hogged my kid..I loved it. If she wasn't careful, I was going to just end up asking her to marry me and make her role official.

I finished all the stuff I had to do and decided I'd stop by Evelyn's friend Riley's place since I knew she was going to be there today. I tried not to, but I had slight twinges of jealousy over how excited Eve had been to have him back in town. I took a little comfort in the fact that she seemed to want me to meet him though.

I ran a hand through my hair and then knocked on the door of the apartment. I hoped he'd managed to finish the job interview by now because I didn't want to interupt; but my kid was in there and so was my girlfriend, so I didn't care too much.

"Ash, no." I laughed and reached over when he tugged on Cyn's hair so that I could get his little fists to let it go. I giggled at me of course and I saw that his hands weren't just holding her hair - but the candy that Evelyn had given him earlier had made his hands sticky and they were stuck in her hair. I sighed and laughed and then stood up.

"Stay there I'm gonna.. go get a warm washcloth." I snickered and quickly turned around and headed into the kitchen as Evelyn got up to answer the door for me. I ran the cloth underneath the hot water and then hurried back to Cyn. It wasn't hot enough to hurt Ash, but warm enough to get his sticky little hand out of her hair. It brought my face close to hers as I worked to remove it.

"Sorry about this. Evelyn gave him candy before you got here.. must have gotten on his hands."

I gave a lopsided smile when she said that starting next week was fine and that moving in earlier would be nice so that she was set up for when I had to go to work. I hoped this worked out as well as I was hoping.. it would make my life a lot easier.

"Thanks for wanting this job, by the way. I didn't know if anyone would take it because it's such a small town.. but I couldn't raise him alone in LA and here was the next best." I chuckled. "So you showing up is kinda perfect."

"Well just let us know when you need help then." I smiled. "I'm sure between the four of us we can manage to move and watch the kids without having to spend any extra money for babysitters."

When someone knocked on the door, I jumped up with Abel right away to get it because Ash's hand seemed to have gotten stuck in Cyn's hair and I knew that it was my fault. While I giggled about it, I moved swiftly by them so that Riley couldn't do anything to me for having, inevitably, embarrassed him a little.

Those thoughts were far from my mind though, as I opened the door and saw Jax on the other side. I gave him a large grin and quickly moved to the side so that he could come in.. though I kept a firm grip on Abel. "You get to meet him."

I grinned, grabbed Jax's hand after he had the door shut and then tugged him into the living room, where Riley was just getting a sticky hand out of Cyn's hair. "Riley, this is Jax." I grinned, obviously proud of my Jax and then I pointed to Cyn and Riley. "And Jax, this is Riley and that is Cyn.. we knew her in high school and apparently she's a nanny now." I chuckled. "After this, I'm seriously considering a career change."

"Definitely" I smiled at Evelyn

I couldn't help but chuckle at the snicker in Riley's voice when he told me to stay here while he went and got a washcloth.

"Aw, do I have to?" I joked "I thought it'd be fun to run around the apartment with Ash stuck to my head"

Ash and I laughed together at the thought of that one. A tiny blush crept into my cheeks when Riley's face became so close to mine though.

"It's alright. I've had much worse happen to me with some of the other kids" I chuckled "One six year old thought it'd be really cool to find out what happened if he tried to use bubble gum to style my hair"

Not to mention all the crap the kids had put me through at school; but I didn't want to say that out loud. I couldn't help grinning at his lopsided smile. It had always been my favorite of his smiles.

"I should be thanking you" I giggled "for giving me the job, not the other way around"

I lifted one hand to wave as Evelyn introduced Jax. With my head a little preoccupied, I couldn't really look at him right now.

I chuckled when Eve grinned at me, but got a death grip on Abel. I shut the door and chuckled again as I was dragged into the living room.

"Hey. Nice to meet you" I waved

I looked at Eve and let out a small snort when she talked about a career change.

"You couldn't do it sweetheart. See, you'd have to actually let the parents have the kid back when they came home" I snickered

I held my hands out for Abel "Speaking of which, can I have my son?" I chuckled