Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The late afternoon sun shined as Lena moved between the desks, helping her first graders pack up their belongings. Backpacks were zipped, art projects carefully slid into folders, and forgotten lunch boxes retrieved from the cubby area.

"Remember to take your vocabulary assignment home this weekend," Lena reminded the class, her voice warm but firm. "I want to see those completed by Monday."

A chorus of "Yes, Miss Miliźe" echoed through the room, some enthusiastic, others resigned.

As she helped little Maja untangle her backpack straps, Lena's eyes drifted to the classroom door for what must have been the dozenth time in the past fifteen minutes. Parents had begun arriving, creating a small crowd in the hallway as they waited to collect their children. Each time the door opened, she felt a small jolt of anticipation, followed by a confusing mixture of relief and disappointment when it wasn't him.

Three days had passed since the parent-teacher conference. Three days since she'd discovered that the man she'd spent the night with was actually Frederica Nouzen's father. Three days of catching herself daydreaming about his body and strong hands before snapping back to reality with the sharp reminder that he was off-limits. Or should be.

"Miss Miliźe, is this spelled right?" A small voice pulled her back to the present.

Lena turned to find Eva holding up her writing journal, pointing to the word "beautiful."

"Almost, Eva. Remember the rule, it's not 'beautyful' even though that makes sense. It's b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l."

As Eva carefully corrected her spelling, Lena glanced toward the back of the classroom where Frederica Nouzen sat alone, engrossed in drawing something in her sketchbook. Unlike the other children who were eager to leave, Frederica seemed content to remain in her own world.

After the last of the other students had been paired with their parents, Lena approached Frederica's desk. 

"That's a beautiful drawing, Frederica," Lena said, genuinely impressed by the detailed scene of what appeared to be a castle with a dragon circling above it.

Frederica looked up, her eyes so similar to her father's in shape, brightening at the praise.

"Thank you! It's for my dad. He tells me stories about a girl who fights dragons. But I think dragons could be tamed and I want to become the Dragon Queen!"

Lena smiled, easing herself onto the edge of the desk beside Frederica's. "You might be right about that. Are you excited for the weekend?"

Frederica shrugged, adding another scale to her friendly-looking dragon. "Mhm. Though dad's been away for work stuff. He said he has to put good locks on computer doors so bad guys can't get in."

"Oh?" Lena said, careful to keep her tone casual despite the unexpected flutter in her chest. "That sounds important."

"Yeah. He's the best at fighting computer bad guys," Frederica continued proudly, oblivious to her teacher's internal battle. "But Auntie Anju and Uncle Dustin are taking me to the aquarium tomorrow. I want to see the jellyfish!"

"Jellyfish are fascinating," Lena agreed, ignoring the subtle but unmistakable pang of disappointment. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, or hoping for, but learning that Shin was away somehow made the classroom feel slightly emptier.

"There's our little artist!" a cheerful female voice called from the doorway.

Lena looked up to see a woman with striking silver hair, much like her own, though styled differently entering the classroom. The woman had piercing blue eyes and carried herself with quiet confidence. She was accompanied by a tall man with light blue-gray hair, rectangular glasses, and a composed, intellectual demeanor.

"Auntie Anju! Uncle Dustin!" Frederica abandoned her drawing, running to greet them with an enthusiasm she rarely showed around most adults.

The silver-haired woman, Anju, caught Frederica in a hug, lifting her off the ground for a moment before setting her down. "Have you been good for Miss Miliźe?" she asked, smoothing Frederica's hair affectionately with a graceful motion.

"She's always good," Lena said, rising from the desk and approaching the couple with an extended hand. "I'm Vladilena Miliźe, Frederica's teacher."

"Anju Jaeger," the silver-haired woman replied, shaking Lena's hand with a gentle but firm grip. "And this is my husband, Dustin. We're friends of Fred's dad."

"Nice to officially meet you," Dustin said with a small, thoughtful smile that softened his otherwise analytical expression. "Fred talks about you all the time. According to her, you know 'everything about everything.'"

Lena laughed, feeling a slight warmth in her cheeks. "I think that might be a slight exaggeration."

"Slight?" Anju said, her eyes eyes twinkling with amusement. "According to Fred, you're basically an encyclopedia with legs."

As Frederica returned to her desk to pack up her drawing materials, Lena found herself curious about these people who were clearly close to Shin and his daughter.

"Frederica mentioned you're taking her to the aquarium this weekend?" she asked, keeping her tone conversational.

"Yeah, Shin pulled another disappearing act for work," Dustin said with a good-natured eye roll. "Some emergency implementation for a financial client in Roa Gracia. Their security audit turned up some catastrophic vulnerabilities, apparently. Shin's plan of action is to—”

"—Dustin," Anju chided gently, "we don't need all the details."

"Sorry," Dustin said, adjusting his glasses with a slight smile.

"It's okay," Lena assured them, absorbing this new information with what she hoped was a neutral expression. "It sounds like important work."

"Important enough that he's been pulling sixteen-hour days for the past week," Anju said with a hint of concern. "He was supposed to be back yesterday, but they extended the project through the next week.”

"That's why we're on Fred duty," Dustin added, gently placing a hand on Frederica's shoulder as she rejoined them, backpack in place and sketchbook clutched protectively to her chest. "Not that we mind, right Frederica?"

Frederica beamed up at him. "Uncle Dustin said we can get ice cream after the jellyfish."

"You love to spoil her with sweets" Anju said dryly, but with clear affection. She turned back to Lena. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Miliźe. Shin mentioned the parent-teacher conference went well?"

Lena felt her heart skip a beat, wondering exactly what Shin had said about their meeting. "Yes, very well. Frederica is an exceptional student."

"That's our girl," Dustin said proudly. 

"He should be back the following Tuesday," Anju mentioned, adjusting the strap of her purse. "Just in time for the normal school drop-off routine."

"I see," Lena said, that mixture of anticipation and dread swirling in her stomach again. Four days. Four days until she would potentially see him again.

"Ready to go, Fred?" Anju asked, holding out her hand.

"Yes! Can we see the sharks too? Dad says sharks are misunderstood."

"That sounds like something Shin would say," Dustin chuckled. "The man has a soft spot for dangerous things."

As the trio headed toward the door, Anju turned back. "It was lovely meeting you, Miss Miliźe. I can see why Fred speaks so highly of you."

"Likewise," Lena replied sincerely. "Enjoy the aquarium."

"Have a good weekend!" Frederica called over her shoulder, waving enthusiastically.

When they disappeared down the hallway, Lena returned to her desk and sank into her chair. 

Tuesday morning. The knowledge settled over her like a deadline and a promise all at once. Eleven days to figure out how to act around him. Eleven days to decide whether the fluttering in her chest when she thought about him was something to nurture or extinguish.

Lena began gathering her own belongings, trying to focus on practical matters. She still had a stack of spelling tests to grade, the science unit to plan, and parent emails to answer. But beneath it all ran a surge of anticipation that no amount of professional focus could completely drown out.

Tuesday morning.

She was equally terrified and eager for it to arrive.

The key turned in the lock with a familiar click as Lena pushed open the door to her apartment. The silence inside was a stark contrast to the cheerful chaos of her classroom. She flicked on the lights, illuminating her modest but beautifully decorated living space. Bookshelves lined the one wall, a comfortable couch with throw pillows sat snuggly to the left, and potted plants on the windowsills stood proudly.

Lena dropped her bag by the door and slipped off her shoes, stepping across the hardwood floor. She rolled her shoulders, trying to release the tension that had built up throughout the day. Friday evenings were usually her time to decompress, to shed the persona of Miss Miliźe and simply be Lena again. Tonight, however, her mind refused to settle.

As she moved into the kitchen to make tea, her eyes fell on Shin's travel mug still sitting by the sink where she'd left it after returning from brunch with Annette days ago. The simple stainless steel container seemed to carry far more significance than any travel mug had a right to. It was tangible evidence of their encounter, proof that the night hadn't been some elaborate fantasy she'd conjured up in her mind.

Lena picked it up, turning it in her hands. She should have given him her number. There had been that moment at his door, the silence stretching between them, heavy with potential. But neither of them had taken the leap.

The kettle whistled, pulling her from her thoughts. As she prepared her tea, she found herself mentally replaying moments from that night. The way his eyes had crinkled slightly at the corners when he smiled. The careful precision in his movements when guiding himself in or tracing patterns on her skin. The surprising gentleness she'd glimpsed beneath his reserved exterior.

What had started as an impulsive decision, leaving the bar with a handsome stranger, had somehow left an impression far deeper than she'd anticipated. It wasn't just the physical connection, though that had been undeniably intense. There had been something else, a sense of recognition almost, as though they'd been speaking in a language only they understood.

Taking her tea to the couch, Lena curled up with a throw blanket and stared out the window at the city lights. The night they'd met at the bar, she'd had no idea he was a father. Would knowing have changed anything? Would she have still gone home with him?

The answer surprised her. Yes, she probably would have. The connection had felt too strong, too hard to ignore, regardless of his circumstances.

But now she wasn't just dealing with Shin the man, but Shin the father of one of her students. The professional implications alone were enough to make her head spin. What would her principal think? Her colleagues? Other parents?

"This is ridiculous," she muttered to herself, taking a sip of tea. "Nothing has even happened. We spent one night together before I knew he was Frederica's father. I shouldn't be in such an existential crisis. End of story."

Yet even as she said it, she knew it wasn't the end. Tuesday morning would come, and with it, the inevitable meeting. What would they say to each other? How would they navigate this strange new reality they found themselves in?

Lena set her mug down and hugged a pillow to her chest. Whatever happened, one thing was clear. Shin Nouzen had left a significant impression, and no amount of professional boundaries or complicated circumstances seemed capable of erasing it.

Shin rubbed his eyes, the harsh glow of the laptop screen the only light in the hotel room. The digital clock on the nightstand read 11:42 PM, another late night in what had become a week of them. Lines of words blurred before him, security protocols and vulnerability assessments swimming together until they lost all meaning.

He pushed back from the desk, stretching his stiff shoulders. The financial firm's security had been even more compromised than they'd initially reported. What should have been a three-day implementation had stretched into nearly a week and a half, with no end in sight. Every fixed vulnerability seemed to reveal three more hiding beneath it.

His phone buzzed with a text notification. Shin picked it up, expecting another message from the client's IT team with yet another urgent request. Instead, he saw Anju's name on the screen, accompanied by a photo of Frederica at the aquarium, her face pressed against the glass of the jellyfish tank, eyes wide with wonder.

Despite his exhaustion, Shin smiled. He typed back a quick reply, thanking Anju and asking her to give Fred a hug from him.

Setting the phone down, he leaned back in the chair, guilt creeping in as it always did when work took him away from his daughter. Fred never complained, she was too much like him in that way, keeping her disappointments to herself. But he knew his absences affected her. He'd promised himself when he became a single parent that he wouldn't vanish into his work as he did before, yet here he was, in a hotel room while his daughter explored an aquarium with his friends instead of him.

"Pathetic," he muttered to himself, standing up to stretch his legs. He moved to the window, pulling back the curtain to look at the Arcs Styrie skyline. The city was beautiful at night, all gleaming towers and twinkling lights, but it wasn't home.

Home. The word conjured images of his apartment, of Frederica's drawings on the refrigerator, of morning rushes to get to school on time.

And now, inexplicably, it also brought to mind silver eyes. Vladilena Miliźe. Miss Miliźe to Frederica.

Shin let the curtain fall closed, returning to sit on the edge of the bed. Their encounter had been replaying in his mind at unexpected moments throughout the week. The way she'd laughed at something he'd said at the bar. The feel of her hair between his fingers. The surprise in her eyes when she'd woken in his bed, followed by that soft smile that had made his chest tighten.

He should have asked for her number. There had been that moment at the door, the perfect opportunity, but something had held him back. Then her ride had arrived, and the moment was gone.

Shin had resigned himself to never seeing her again, to adding her to the list of "what ifs" in his life. Then came the parent-teacher conference, and the shock of recognition that had passed between them when he'd walked into that classroom.

Of all the elementary school teachers in the area, she had to be Frederica's. The coincidence was almost laughable.

Shin pinched the bridge of his nose. The situation was undeniably complicated. Did the school have policies about teachers dating parents? Probably. Would pursuing anything with her put her in a difficult professional position? Almost certainly.

And yet.

There had been something in her eyes when they'd spoken briefly in the classroom, after Frederica had stepped out. A recognition that whatever had sparked between them that night hadn't been extinguished by the revelation of their connection.

Shin wasn't one for relationships. After Frederica's mother had passed, he'd thrown himself into fatherhood and work, convinced that was all he had room for in his life. Casual encounters like the one with Lena were rare for him, precisely because he generally avoided complications.

But there was nothing casual about the way she'd lingered in his thoughts, or the way his pulse had quickened when he'd recognized her in that classroom.

Shin picked up his phone again, scrolling to find the contact information for Frederica's teacher that the school had provided at the beginning of the year. "Miss L. Miliźe" stared back at him from the screen, along with a phone number and email address.

His thumb hovered over the work number. He could text her now, break the ice before they had to face each other on Tuesday morning. But what would he say? Sorry I didn't mention I had a kid before we slept together. Also, nice coincidence that you teach her. Coffee sometime?

Shin set the phone down with a sigh. This wasn't something to handle via text message. Especially with a work number. Whatever was happening between them, whatever could happen, deserved a face-to-face conversation.

Tuesday morning would come soon enough. He'd see her then, and they would figure this out like adults. In the meantime, he had a plan to implement and a daughter to call before bedtime.

But as he turned back to his laptop, Shin couldn't help but wonder how their complicated circumstances might unfold when he returned home.

"I swear, if I have to hear Mrs. Lin talk about her son's lactose intolerance one more time, I might actually scream," Mikuri declared, dramatically dropping her lunch bag onto the teachers' lounge table.

A chorus of laughter rose from the small group of teachers gathered for their midday break. Lena smiled politely as she picked at her fruit, only half-listening to the familiar venting session that had become something of a tradition at the school.

"Parent-teacher conference season," sighed Kuroto, the third-grade teacher, "when we realize that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and sometimes that tree is deeply concerning."

"Oh come on, it wasn't all bad," countered Theo from the art department. "I had some really productive conversations with parents this time."

"Plus," added Aina, the kindergarten teacher who was in her first year at the school, "there were some definite highlights in the eye candy department." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. 

"The hot parent conversation has officially begun," Kuroto announced with mock formality. "Who else made the list this year?"

Lena kept her eyes firmly on her lunch as the conversation devolved into the topic of attractive parents. It was harmless enough, no one ever acted on these observations, and they remained strictly within the teachers' lounge. But for the first time, she felt distinctly uncomfortable with the topic.

"What about you, Lena?" Mikuri asked suddenly, turning toward her with a smile. "Any parents catch your eye this year?"

Lena nearly choked on her water. "What? No. I—I mean I don't really notice that sort of thing," she managed, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.

"Oh my god, you're blushing!" Aina exclaimed, leaning forward with sudden interest. "You totally do have a parent crush!"

"I absolutely do not," Lena protested, perhaps a bit too emphatically. She busied herself with reorganizing her lunch, avoiding eye contact. "I maintain strictly professional relationships with all my students' parents."

Kuroto raised an eyebrow. "Thou lady thy seem to thy protest thy much, methinks."

Theo rolled his eyes. “Can you shut up Kuroto. That literally didn't make any sense.”

"Seriously, Lena, spill," Mikuri pressed. "Who is it? Is it the new dad? The security guy who always seem to be the last one to pick up his daughter? I saw him at drop-off once. Those sunglasses and that serious expression?" She fanned herself dramatically. "Definite Dilf vibes."

Lena felt as though the floor might open up beneath her. How was this happening? Was her attraction to Shin somehow written all over her face? Had someone seen them at the bar that night?

"I really don't think this is an appropriate conversation," she said, striving for a light, dismissive tone but landing somewhere closer to panicked. "We should be discussing curriculum plans, not... that."

“Just admit yo—”

"—Oh, leave her alone," Milena interjected, to Lena's immense relief. "Not everyone wants to participate in the hot parent awards."

"Fine, fine," Mikuri conceded with a dramatic sigh as the bob-haired woman, Milena Belik, patted Lena on the shoulder before walking away. "But just for the record, mystery dad gets my vote for the hottest parent."

The conversation mercifully shifted to complaints about the cafeteria's new lunch schedule, but Lena remained unsettled. If her colleagues could so easily pick up on some nonexistent "parent crush," how would they react if they knew the truth? The thought of becoming fodder for teacher's lounge gossip, or worse, facing professional consequences made her stomach churn.

By the time the lunch break ended, Lena had made a resolution. When Shin returned, she would maintain absolute professionalism. No lingering glances, no private conversations, nothing that could possibly be construed as inappropriate. Whatever had happened between them needed to stay firmly in the past.

It was the only sensible option, she told herself as she led her students back to the classroom. The only way to protect her career, her reputation, and her peace of mind.

So why did the thought fill her with such unmistakable disappointment?

Friday afternoon arrived with the drowsy warmth that often settled over elementary classrooms at the end of the day. Lena moved between the desks, helping her students pack up their weekend homework folders as the final bell approached.

"Remember, I want everyone to complete the two math assignments," she reminded them.

Throughout the week, she'd managed to settle back into her routine, focusing on lesson plans and student needs rather than her complicated personal situation. Anju's words about Shin not returning until Tuesday had been something of a relief.

"Miss Miliźe, can I take the dragon book home?" Frederica asked, holding up a colorful picture book about a dragon who was afraid of fire.

"Of course you can, Frederica," Lena replied, helping the little girl slide it into her backpack. "I think you'll really enjoy the ending."

"I'm gonna read it to my dad," Frederica said, carefully zipping her backpack. "He makes the best dragon noises."

Lena smiled, ignoring the small flutter in her chest at the mention of Shin. "I'm sure he does."

The dismissal bell rang, and the classroom erupted into the controlled chaos of first graders eager to start their weekend. Lena positioned herself by the door as usual, making sure each child got with their designated pickup person.

She was helping a student untangle his jacket sleeves when she heard Frederica's excited voice cut through the classroom noise.

"Daddy! You're back early!"

Lena's head snapped up in time to see Frederica bolt toward the doorway, hair flying behind her. And there, standing just inside the classroom, was Shin.

He looked different than he had at the parent-teacher conference, more disheveled, with the appearance of someone who had been traveling. His hair was less neatly styled, his sunglasses slightly askew, and the faint shadow of stubble darkened his jaw. Dark circles beneath his eyes suggested he hadn't slept much, but his expression brightened as he crouched down to catch Frederica in a tight hug.

"Hey, firefly," he said, his voice low and warm in a way Lena hadn't heard before. "Surprise."

"You said Tuesday!" Frederica exclaimed, pulling back to look at him with excited accusation.

"I worked really fast," Shin replied, adjusting his sunglasses with one hand while keeping the other around his daughter. "Couldn't wait to see you."

It was only then, as he straightened up with Frederica still clinging to him, that his eyes met Lena's across the bustling classroom.

Time seemed to suspend itself. The noise of excited children and chatting parents faded to a distant hum as Lena found herself unable to look away. There was recognition in his gaze, not just of her as Frederica's teacher, but of everything unspoken between them. The night they'd shared, the shock of their discovery, the complicated reality they now faced.

A parent asked Lena a question, breaking the spell. She turned to answer, grateful for the distraction, but acutely aware of Shin's presence just a few feet away. When she glanced back, he was helping Frederica with her backpack, but his eyes briefly found hers again.

He offered a small, reserved nod, yet somehow conveying a depth of meaning that made her pulse quicken. It was the acknowledgment of a fellow adult navigating a delicate situation, but also something more. Something unresolved.

As he was guiding Frederica toward the door, he stopped for a moment. He hesitated, glancing back at Lena with an expression she couldn't quite decipher. Then he was gone, disappearing into the stream of departing families.

Lena continued her dismissal duties, ensuring each child left safely. But her thoughts remained tangled around that brief exchange of glances, the silent communication that had passed between them.

Finally, the last student departed, leaving Lena alone in the suddenly quiet classroom. She closed the door and leaned against it, heart still racing despite her best efforts to remain composed.

He wasn't supposed to be back until Tuesday. She had a plan, maintain professionalism, keep interactions brief and impersonal, establish clear boundaries. But the unexpectedness of seeing him today had caught her off guard, leaving her defenses fragile.

Lena moved to her desk and sank into her chair, staring at the colorful alphabet chart on the opposite wall. She'd spent the week convincing herself that maintaining professional distance was the only sensible option. That whatever had sparked between them needed to be extinguished before it could complicate both their lives.

But as she sat in the empty classroom, she had to acknowledge an uncomfortable truth, sensible or not, the connection between them remained. And she had absolutely no idea what to do about it.