Chapter Two

I've been working for a few hours now, and aside from our regular clients, the bakery has been relatively quiet. Lucas left not so long ago, he said, and I quote he needed "to babysit the lion." aka his little sister. Abbey had just finished her shift as well, leaving me and a few other co-workers to operate the bakery.

I am disturbed from my reverie by the bell's jingle, which alerts me to the presence of a customer. Looking across to the entrance, I observe a young child attempting to open the large, heavy doors while shoving his body through the narrow opening. The doorknobs were just slightly out of reach of the top of his head. Where are this boy's parents?

I move around the counter moving towards the small boy slowly, and crouch down so I'm eye level with the young black haired boy. His silver grey eyes were full with curiosity as he looked around the bakery before his eyes met mine, his tiny body taking a step back.

"Hey there little guy. Where are your parents?" I ask softly, giving him a comforting smile.

However, I do not receive a response; he simply stands there staring at me as if trying to comprehend something. I look around the bakery to see if anyone is looking for their child. But there isn't anyone. Everyone is just chatting with one another, or so engrossed in their food that they don't even notice that the small boy has entered. There was no one inside or outside either. I return my gaze to the small silver-eyed child in front of me and give him a small smile.

"How about we come over here and sit? Would you like a cookie?" I ask again, but I get silence in return. Okay... this kid is abnormally quiet.

I decide to take him to a place where he'll feel more comfortable, so I lean forward slightly before asking if I can hold his hand. The only reply I get is the small barely there nod of his head. I take a hold of his little hand and bring him to a small table in the corner of the room. I notice his hands are slightly cold so I grab a small blanket off the back of the cream coach in the bakery and place it over his shoulders. Moving over to the counter next to us I grab a chocolate cookie putting it on a napkin, before pouring a small cup of hot chocolate for him to help him warm up. Placing it down on the table in front of him, I push them closer to his small figure, but he doesn't touch them.

"You don't want it? I can assure you these are the best cookies and hot chocolate you'll ever have." His little fists tighten and close at his sides as he considers whether to take it from me as I tease him. My hand waving the cookie in front of him.

"Daddy says not to take things from strangers." Looking between the cookie and me, he says in a little, gentle voice. Oh so he's a daddy's boy then ok.

"OK... What's your name, then?" I say this in an effort to get him to open up to me. Usually with children his age you can never get them to shut up, but this small boy is the total opposite. I don't mind though.

"Matteo." He says gently while playing with his minuscule thumbs. What a cutie.

"Matteo, that's a lovely name. My name is Ilaria." I say shaking his now slightly warm tiny hand in mine.

"See now we're not strangers anymore, right?" I ask again, giving him the cookie. This time, his little hands wrap around it hesitantly and he brings it to his mouth, nibbling a small chunk of the cookie. As he chews on it, a broad smile completely takes over his face, his hands tightening around the cookie, chocolate coating his mouth and cheeks.

"So Matteo. Where are your parents?" I ask again, the cookie now almost demolished by this cute tiny boy.

"My dad's at work. He works a lot." He said finishing off the last of the cookie.

"What about your mom?" I ask. He pauses, his entire body tensing up beneath my stare, and I immediately regret what I just said. I take a peek at the little image of Iron Man on his red and black shirt. I come up with an idea after deciding to shift the subject.

"Iron man huh? Is he your favourite Avenger?" I continue, seeing his expression brighten up.

"Yeah. He protects people from the baddies, and nothing can stop him because he's like super strong. And, and, he has a super duper cool suit!" He says excitedly bouncing up and down in his seat. I think I've found out how to make him talk. Looks like this guy is an Avengers fan.

"Yeah, he does have a super-duper cool suit, doesn't he?" I inquire, giggling at his overjoyed expression. I watch as he grabs the hot chocolate in front of him, his tiny hands wrapping around the cup as he takes a large gulp, his eyes lightening up. Watching as he places it down on the table, I see the milk moustache he's left behind. Grabbing a napkin from the counter I gently wipe the melted chocolate off of his cheeks, mouth and hands before he gets it anywhere.

"Can I have another cookie?" He asks, his enormous eyes wide with hope as he looks at me. Is he looking at me with puppy eyes? No, that's my weakness. Why Ilaria? Why? Don't fold. Don't fold. Don't -

"Only one more, ok? I don't want your dad getting upset because you've had too much sugar, ok?" I giggle as he starts jumping in his seat again. Not wanting to leave Matteo alone for too long, I dash to the counter. I approach Matteo, who hasn't taken his eyes off of me, while pulling another cookie out of the jar. His hands coming into contact with the cookie as soon as I hand it out to him. How cute.

"Thank you!" He mumbles out of his cookie-filled mouth. I grin as I shake my head at this kid's adorable antics, before I stop suddenly.

My attention snaps to the spot where someone has dropped their mug on the floor as the sound of shattering glass abruptly reaches my ears. A few of my co-workers moved over to wipe up the glass that had spilled on the wooden floors. My heart rate picks up slightly, flashbacks from my past being brough forth.

I felt a tiny warm body creep into my lap, trembling. Matteo's hands are wrapped around my waist, his head pressing up against my stomach, and his legs are wrapped around my hips. I wrap my arms around him, enjoying the sensation of his body relaxing against mine. His tiny hands clenched the back of my shirt, feeling his hand rub against the sensitive scars on my back. I calm down slightly wrapping my arms around Matteo's small body. His cookie now discarded on the floor, crumbs and chunks of cookie scattered across the place.

"Hey little guy, it's ok." I say this while rubbing his back. He must have been frightened earlier when the glass broke. You and me both Matteo. You and me both.

"I know what can cheer you up." I watch as his head moves away from my chest to stare up at me, his eyes duller this time.

"What?" He softly says his body is still slightly shaken up.

"This." I say before quickly moving so my hands come to tickle his sides. His loud squeals of laughter running through the bakery, making a few heads turn our way.

"Stop!" As he writhes about on my lap, more laughter escapes his chest, and a smile spreads across my face, loving the sound of this silver eyed boy's laughter.

I let go of his small body, allowing him to gather his breath, his squeals of laughter dissolving into small giggles.

"Matteo." A deep voice says from behind us, my heart rate increasing for an unknown reason.

"Daddy!"