As kids, our parents are supposed to teach us right from wrong, more so respect and to be truthful. Peter's parents taught him those morals whether someone is in a bad mood or being rude Peter always chose to be kind. While that sometimes helped, people still acted all the same. It's rare when Peter comes across a nice person.

He wanted to teach his daughter, Hazel, the same thing his parents had taught him. He became a single parent when his daughter's mother died due to complications.

Her name was Olivia, they had been together since Junior year of high school, but were friends way before that when she died he felt his heart become like an empty void. When Hazel was born she was a tiny thing, immediately going into the NICU (Natal Intensive Care Unit) and Peter wasn't allowed to see her.

When he finally got to hold his little girl he cried, she was so tiny and absolutely perfect. He was able to take her home a few weeks later and he had read pretty much every book he could have possibly read about babies coming from the NICU.

And how to proceed in taking care of them, there were a ton of sleepless nights, but luckily he had the help of Tony, his foster dad. Now Peter is twenty three and little Hazel is five, Peter is working two jobs one at a coffee shop and another at a local restaurant.

He and Hazel live in a small studio apartment and Peter has his own car. He drives Hazel to school everyday and then heads to his first job at the coffee shop, then at 2 P.M. he picks Hazel up and has a few hours before dropping her off at Tony's and heading to his second job as a waiter at the restaurant.

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Today was a pretty busy day as he was working his shift at the shop, a young lady walked to the counter smiling at Peter and Peter returned the favor. "Good morning miss, what would you like?" Peter asked.

"Just a black coffee, thank you." The woman said.

Peter nodded to Betty, his coworker, who helped him out brewing the coffee. The woman was still standing there looking at Peter so he got the confidence to spark up a conversation. "So how are you doing on this fine day miss?" He asks.

"You don't have to call me miss, my name is MJ, and I'm doing pretty good. Getting coffee from the best shop in Brooklyn by a certain someone named Peter, if that is your real name?" She teased.

Peter blushed, "Are you trying to flirt with me, MJ?" He asked.

"Maybe, is it working?"

"You're not the best at it." Peter laughed. Once the coffee was done Peter handed the to-go cup full of liquid to MJ, she smiled at him one last time before turning and leaving the shop. He smiled to himself. Betty nudged his arm, Peter snapped out of his daze, and Betty giggled to herself. In all of the years she's known him he's never been distracted by anyone except Ms. MJ. (And Olivia.)

He got back to work and some hours passed as his shift ended which meant he had to pick his daughter up from kindergarten. He drove to the front of the school, getting out of his car walking to the stairs seeing Hazel with the biggest smile on her face. "Daddy!" She exclaimed.

She ran to Peter and jumped into his arms, Peter hugged her close and kissed her cheek. Giving a nod to Harrison the attendee who watches the kids who wait outside for their parents. He walked away with Hazel in his arms towards their car. "Hi my little love, how was your day?"

"It was good! I played building blocks by myself, I made a castle and Bun-Bun would like it. But Ms. Suzie told me to clean up." Hazel explained in a chipper tone.

Peter chuckled, strapping Hazel in her car seat and setting off to Tony's house for him to watch Hazel. As he gets to his next shift at the restaurant he took for a night shift. Tony gladly accepted to take care of Hazel, I mean that's his first grandkid technically since he raised Peter as his own since he was six.

He was eighteen when Hazel was born, yeah he knows it was pretty irresponsible to become a father at that age but he wouldn't trade his little Hazel basil for the world. She's exactly like her mother, a very kind, gentle, kindred spirit.

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After Peter dropped Hazel off with Tony he headed to his other job he finished around 10 P.M. he picked her up about twenty minutes later, driving them both home and getting Hazel to bed. He sat down on his bed sighing out of exhaustion, he knew he'd better get sleep now or else he'd be out of it the next day.

Now it was two A.M. and he heard the pitter patter of small feet, he opened his eyes and saw Hazel with tear stains rolling down her cheeks, but were illuminated from the glistening light coming from the hallway. "Hey, what's wrong little love?" He asks.

Hazel clutched Bun-Bun her stuffed bunny and whimpered in fear, "Had a scary dream daddy."

Peter sighed, "Come here baby, it's okay." He picked Hazel up and cuddled with her until they both fell back asleep. Soon it was morning and Peter had to get up and get Hazel ready, she was extra clingy since she had a nightmare the night before.

It took a lot of convincing and promises of ice cream but Peter finally got Hazel to go into her classroom. He got into his shift late due to Hazel's clingy-ness. But he got to work nonetheless noticing the same woman he met yesterday was sitting in the corner.

"You should get her number." Peter turned to see Betty who was smiling at him.

"Yeah right, like that'll happen I have the social skills of a dragonfly." He said while laughing a little.

"Oh c'mon Peter I've known since high school, you've gotta put yourself out there." Peter shook his head; he didn't want to get close to MJ and then drive her away once she found out about Hazel.

As he continued to work he noticed Betty went over to MJ and was talking to her. Oh god, what is Betty doing? Peter thought. She came back with a smile and as MJ packed her laptop into its case Peter had his head down, writing a small grocery list and slipping it into his pocket.

He looked up and saw MJ standing in front of him. "Uh, hi." He greeted.

"Surprised you didn't call me miss again, anyway I talked to your friend and I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with me tomorrow night?" She asked.

Tony could watch Hazel right? Wait he can't. He's headed to see Morgan at M. I. T., May can't because she's hanging out with Pepper, and Ned is sick, Betty is seeing her family upstate as well. This means no one is available to watch Hazel. Plus he had the day off and needed to run a bunch of errands.

"Um, I'm sorry, but I'm pretty busy but how about I give you my number a-and we could set up another time and day?" He suggests.

"Sounds good." MJ replies.

Soon after Peter gave MJ his number and she gave him hers they texted often, Peter still hadn't told her about Hazel. The next few weeks were filled with blushing cheeks, soft smiles, and not so subtle flirting from both Peter and MJ. He has to tell her the truth so when she came to the coffee shop he asked if she wanted to hang out after his shift, and she agreed.
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Peter's shift ended and now it was time to pick up Hazel from school so Peter picked MJ up from her apartment.

As they were driving Peter spoke up, "I need to tell you something, I um I actually have a five year old daughter, her name is Hazel, the reason why I couldn't hang out with you is because I have to take care of her, I'm working two jobs, and to be honest I didn't want to bring someone into her life just so they could leave." Peter explained.

MJ was silent but eventually she spoke; "I understand, if I had a kid I wouldn't necessarily want to have anyone around them until I thought it was safe." She said. That made Peter sigh with relief. He honestly thought she'd run away as soon as he mentioned Hazel's name.

"I'm sorry for not telling you earlier, it's just... I guess I spooked myself thinking you'd leave as soon as you found out I was a single father."

"Don't apologize for protecting your little one, Peter," MJ said. They got to Hazel's school stepping out of the car, Hazel saw her dad and ran to him hugging him she turned her head and saw MJ.

"Who's that daddy?" She asked.

"Hazel, meet MJ. MJ, meet my girl Hazel." Peter introduced. Hazel waved shyly, hiding her head into Peter's shoulder.

"It's alright little love, MJ is my friend. No need to be shy." He whispered, giving her a peck on her cheek. MJ smiled, "It's okay Peter, I'd really love to get to know Hazel she seems like a sweet girl."

After awhile Hazel warmed up to MJ and was talking up a storm about her day. When they got back to Peter's apartment he made Hazel dinner along with MJ as well and then got Hazel ready for bed.

"Goodnight Ms. MJ!" Hazel smiled.

"Goodnight Hazel, I had fun hanging out with you." Peter smiled and took Hazel to bed then coming back out to MJ who was sitting on his living room couch. "I had fun with you guys, she is so adorable."

"Yeah she is, she's exactly like her mother, I wish she got to know her." Peter said.

"I'm sorry about Hazel's mother she must've been excited but at least she isn't in pain." Peter nodded.

"Look I wanna make something clear, Hazel and I are a package deal, if you want to be with me she has to be included because I love her with all my heart." Peter stated.

MJ nodded, "Good because if we wanted to start planning that second date she'd be included, as long as you want a second date."

"I'd like that a lot actually, do you mind if I do something?" He asked.

MJ nodded and Peter leaned in at first grazing her lips then kissing her and cupping her face in his palms. Soon he pulled away, "I really like you, Peter,"

"I really like you too, MJ," Peter replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The End of Chapter 75