AN: Hi everyone :) I am sorry for the hiatus. I needed some time. Also I hope everyone is safe and okay with this pandemic! This story is chock full of fluff which can hopefully bring about a little joy during this scary time.

Warning: This story is AU!

The dates in these chapters are your friends :) The quotes were fun to look up.

P.S. This was a different style of story than I've written before and it was unique and fun which I hope you enjoy too.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but they make my heart melt.

FATEFUL MEETING

"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey."-Winnie the Pooh

March, 1978

"Go outside and play, Johnny."

John didn't need to be told twice. He instantly grabbed his football, jacket, and raced outside. They had just moved to Blasdell, New York only a few short weeks ago. Being the new kid in school with it nearly over had only one good thing going for it: it was almost over. His dad left again just yesterday and he missed him already, because he didn't know when he'd be back. John sat in the grass and threw the ball up in the air. Had his dad been home then they could play catch together.

He let himself get lost in thoughts and not dwell on the fact that he didn't have any friends yet. But he didn't really care. Given enough time they'd move from New York too. They always did. He lied in the grass and stared up at the clouds dreaming of the day when his dad would stay home and not leave for weeks to months anymore. Resentment welled up in him but just as if did he felt guilty over it. But he just wanted his dad for more than a few months at a time.

"Dad's a hero." he reminded himself.

And mom was trying. He knew she was sad and missed him too. But she had gotten a chalk board and now they both wrote one thing they each loved most about dad. It made them feel closer to him while he was away. Made waiting for him to come home bearable. Although there was one good thing about having just his mom home, she always played games with him. She'd set aside boring house chores to play whatever he wanted. Maybe tonight he'd convince her to teach him poker. Dad said mom was the bestest player ever.

Birds chirped before a scream pierced their songs and John sat up with his little heart thumping wildly. He looked around and saw a few houses down a little black girl had fallen off her bike and was pinned beneath it. He scrambled to his feet and raced over to where she was.

"Don't move," he told the struggling and crying girl. He lifted the small pink bike off her little body and set it aside. John crouched down next to her. "Do you want me to go find your mom?" he offered as he watched her roll onto her side before pushing herself to sit up to clutch her knees as tears slid down her small cheeks.

"N-no, I-I'm fine."

John didn't think she was. But soon the tears faded but her knees continued to bleed. He took the time to watch her and she watched him right back. Her dark hair was braided in several spots and had little plastic beads at the ends.

"T-thank you, for s-saving me," she said, voice small and only quivered a bit.

John puffed up. He did save her, didn't he? His dad saved people so did that mean he was just like him? John grinned at the little girl who just gave him the greatest compliment he'd ever gotten. But then he controlled his happiness over the compliment. His dad never got too excited over one, so he wasn't either.

He nodded to her skinned and bloody knees. "I can go get you some BAND-AIDs," he offered.

She shook her head. "I've never seen you before. Are you new?" the girl asked finally as they sat together on the sidewalk. She wore a dress under a pink jacket. Her pink socks came up to her ankles and wore some really girly looking shoes.

He pointed at the house a few down. "We just moved here a few weeks ago. I'm John."

"I'm Joss. I just turned six last week," she said with her back straightening in pride.

"I'm seven. But I'll be eight on May 1st. That's only two years away from being double digits."

Her eyes grew round. "Double digits," she breathed. "You're like-like a grown up."

John smiled, liking the admiration in her eyes. "Pretty much," he agreed. Then because he didn't think his dad would let any girl sit on the sidewalk bleeding, he stood and offered her a hand up. "Come on, let's go show your mom your legs. Moms always fuss." Dad always said to take care of girls because they deserved to be treated right. And Joss was a girl. So she had to be treated right.

She eyed his hand before sliding her much smaller one into it and he helped her stand. Her little lip wobbled now as her knees straightened and tears loomed large in her dark brown eyes once more. "Don't cry Joss, your mom will fix you right up," he reassured but when he went to take his hand back he found he couldn't because the little girl was squeezing it. John decided to let her. They walked hand in hand to her door, and he knocked on it because Joss began crying silently beside him again as the wounds on her knees began to bleed again.

The door opened and a man with a balding head opened the door. He had big glasses on his eyes and a mustache. "Hi, Mr. Joss's Dad, Joss fell off her bike and hurt her legs."

"Oh sweet baby come here," he murmured as he bent and scooped Joss up into his arms. Her little legs dangled over his forearm and her dark eyes watched him. John didn't know what else to do so he turned to leave. "Hey young man," Joss's dad called.

"His name is John, daddy!" Joss piped up whilst rubbing her eyes. "He's my hero! I fell and I couldn't get up, and my legs hurt really badly and John picked the bike up and it weighs more than he does!"

John stopped and turned to see Joss's dad smile at her before glancing his way. "John," he amended. Joss's father eyed the little boy in front of him. He was tall and lanky, with short dark hair. Big eyes that reminded him of aquamarines that Alice loved so much. This must be Connor and Margaret's son he heard about when he met them as they were moving in. The boy hadn't been around, no doubt not wanting him underfoot.

"Yes sir?"

The older man smiled. "Call me, Marcus. Thank you for taking care of our Joss."

"You're welcome, Mr. Marcus." John then left as the man shut the door. John walked to where Joss's bike rested on its side on the sidewalk. He didn't see her father watching through the window, as he walked her little bike up to the garage and leaned it against the wall.

John raced back home and couldn't wait until he told his mom about being just like dad: a hero.

AN: That bike scene actually was me. I fell off my bike about that age and the bike landed on top of my legs, pinning me and a neighborhood boy ran and helped me. Although Joss wasn't a wimp as I was LOL. I will post the next chapter Tuesday sometime seeing as Monday is my birthday :)

Thank you for reading!