#grumpy

Marceline

michael robby robinavitch x fem!reader

introduction: you cancel your second date with Robby because you can’t find a babysitter to take care of the tiny princess you have. What you don’t expect is for him to show up at your apartment worried sick after you stop answering his texts… and accidentally meet the little girl you’ve been hiding from him.

warnings: attending!robby x fem!reader, age gap, single mom reader, mentions of past sexual assault/abuse (non-graphic), trauma & anxiety, self-worth issues, emotional themes, fluff + angst, protective robby, hurt/comfort, kissing, family dynamics, reader struggling with vulnerability, lots of soft baby Riven moments

What if all your first times are with your old-enough attending?

You have been on a date once, in your hole life, and it was with the same person you were waiting to show up

But there was a tiny brunette problem.

Your kid.

Robby didn’t know about her, never met her and you weren’t prepared yet for the encounter

Your babygirl was now three years old and she understand more things by now, the main thing that she was eager to ask every single time, was why didn’t she have a dada

You couldn’t answer that without feeling guilty. And the memories of the night that she happened, weren’t cheerful.

When you were twenty one years old, you were abused. And in consequence Riven was born

Don’t misunderstand this, she was the light of your life in every meaning of the word

But you were through the worst things before and during your pragnancy

Robby did not know about this, about your suffering and the things you carried. This, due to the fact, that you were embarrassed about him seeing you like something filthy

And when your second date was going to happend, you couldn’t find a babysitter in time, so you called your older sister

“Hey, is everything okay?” she asked through the phone

“Hi, uhm, sorry to bother you and i know it’s late to ask you this, but, could you babysit Riv tonight?” you bit your lip with nervousness

“But, y/n, weren’t you going to meet with Robby tonight?” she asked and you could’ve laugh at her stupidity, but you were very anxious

“Yes, Liz, that’s why i’m asking” your brows frowned at her question

“I’m sorry, i can’t tonight” she said after a silence

A shaky breath left your mouth when Riven just came out her room with her princess dress on and a plastic tiara

“Look mommy! i’m pretty” she said with her three-year old-vocabulary while spinning on her edge

A big smile was now on your lips at the sight of your baby

“You are the most beautiful baby on earth” you said and she ran straight to you giggling and hugged you

“Don’t worry Liz, i’ll ask him to reschedule the meeting” you said carefully

Liz apologize too many times before pressing the red button

A soft huff left your mouth with a tired gaze

“Mommy” Riven called

“What baby?” your voice softer than you intended, your hand lift up to meet Riven’s curls to start stroking them with love

“Are you sad?” her innocent tone broke your heart

“No baby”

“Are you mad at me?” her eyes were full with concern and your mouth twich downward, feeling your eyes filled with tears you were trying to hold back

“No my love, i could never be mad at my little and gorgeous princess” you said with a smile and pointing her tummy making her laugh

“luve you mama” and then she lift up from your lap to start her way to the floor where her painting books were resting open, waiting for her

You watched her for a while, and felt the pit in your throat, but the buzzing of your phone made you come back to real world

“sorry i’m probably going to be late, car crash incoming”

Robby texted.

“I was going to text you… i don’t think i can make it tonight, i’m really sorry”

You were frustrated and feeling the need to cry. You really like Robby, and you really wanted to move on with him, because you knew he wanted to do things right and properly

For the rest of the evening, you weren’t able to watch your phone, guilt was eating you alive

You tried to focus on Riven instead.

You really did.

You sat on the floor beside her while she colored outside the lines with intense concentration, tongue poking out slightly from the corner of her mouth.

“Mommy,” she whispered dramatically, holding up a pink crayon, “this one smells funny.”

You smiled weakly. “That’s because they’re scented, baby.”

She gasped like this was groundbreaking information.

Then immediately shoved the crayon near your face.

“Smell.”

And you did, because you would do absolutely anything for her.

“Strawberry,” you nodded.

“No,” she corrected seriously. “Princess.”

A laugh escaped your mouth before you could stop it.

For a few minutes, things felt lighter.

Until your phone buzzed again on the couch.

Your stomach twisted instantly.

You ignored it.

Five minutes later, it buzzed again.

And again.

Riven looked up from her coloring. “Your phone’s yelling.”

“It’s okay, baby.”

But it wasn’t.

Because deep down, you knew Robby wouldn’t text this much unless he was worried.

Still, shame glued you in place. You hated disappointing people.

Especially him.

Especially because a part of you still couldn’t understand why someone like Robby even wanted someone like you.

The thought made your chest ache.

Before you could spiral further, there was a knock at the door.

Your entire body went still.

Riven blinked toward the entrance. “Who’s that?”

Nobody ever came over this late.

Slowly, you stood up, heart pounding hard enough to make you dizzy.

Another knock.

Then your phone buzzed one more time.

You looked down.

Please tell me you’re okay.

Your breath caught.

Oh.

Oh no.

You hurried toward the door and opened it quickly.

And there he was.

Robby stood in the hallway still wearing black scrubs under a dark jacket, exhaustion written all over his face. His hair looked slightly damp from the night air and his brows pulled together immediately the second he saw you.

“There you are.”

The relief in his voice hit you harder than it should have.

“I—”

“You stopped answering.” His breathing was slightly uneven, like he came upstairs too fast. “I thought something happened.”

Guilt punched straight through you.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered instantly. “I didn’t mean to worry you, I just—”

Your voice cracked embarrassingly.

Robby’s expression softened immediately, stepping closer.

“Hey.”

Then tiny footsteps appeared behind you.

Riven peeked around your leg curiously, curls messy from rolling around on the carpet, tiny tiara still crooked on her head.

The second Robby noticed her, he went completely silent; and you forgot how to breathe.

Riven stared at him with huge eyes.

“…Who’s that?”

Your mouth opened.

Closed.

Opened again.

Humiliation flooded your chest so fast it burned.

Because this– this was exactly what you had tried to avoid.

Robby finding out like this.

Seeing your life like this.

Seeing you.

“She’s my daughter,” you finally managed quietly.

Robby looked stunned for maybe half a second.

Then his eyes went back to Riven.

Not cold, not even angry.

Just surprised.

She looked just like you. With big brown doe eyes, the tiny dimples on her cheeks, her light curls, everything was yours

She was gorgeous, just like her mommy

Riven hid slightly behind your leg, still staring at him openly.

Robby crouched down a little without thinking, instinctively making himself less intimidating.

“Hi.”

Riven blinked.

Then, very seriously:

“You’re really tall.”

A startled laugh left him.

“Yeah, I get that a lot.”

“She’s three,” you said softly, anxiety making your fingers shake. “Her name is Riven.”

Robby repeated it gently, like it was something important.

“Riven.”

She kept studying him carefully.

Then pointed at the stitched cut near his eyebrow.

“Owie?”

You wanted the earth to swallow you whole, but Robby just touched his eyebrow lightly.

“Work accident.”

“Did you cry?”

You slapped a hand over your face instantly.

“Oh my god.”

Robby laughed quietly this time, warm and real.

“…Maybe a little.”

Riven nodded like she respected his honesty.

Then she reached down, grabbed her stuffed bunny from the floor and held it up toward him.

“This is Lady Sparkles.”

Something changed in Robby’s face right then.

Something soft.

Like he hadn’t expected to be trusted that quickly, he took the bunny carefully.

“Well,” he whispered seriously to the toy, “it’s an honor to meet you, Lady Sparkles.”

Riven giggled.

And you stood there in complete silence, heart aching painfully in your chest.

Because Robby didn’t look at your daughter like she was baggage.

He looked at her like she mattered simply because she was yours.

“Riv, can you go to your room for a minute?, it’s just a second baby” you said kneeling in front of her

The tiny girl nodded and ran to her room with a smile in her face

“Hey look i’m—“

“No, it’s fine. I would love you telling me this before, but it’s okay if you didn’t want to rush things” he said stepping close to you

His hand cupped the side of your face, touching slightly your cheekbone

“I-i… i don’t know what to say than sorry. And i want to tell you everything, i swear i do.” you said faster than you intended

“I have time, if you let me stay. If you feel like it’s too much right now, i can go away and we could figure things out tomorrow or in our date” he said stroking your face, his eyes glowing with adoration

You felt like crying, and he noticed, he always did

The two of you felt the tiny steps and the soft giggle, Riven was hiding behind the doorframe, watching the two of you

She was amused with Robby and how big he was, he looked like a bear to her and her imagination

“I think she likes you alredy” you said with a tiny smile and he laughed

“Good to know, i would like her even if i knew sooner, just because she is yours” his words meant more than he knew to you, all the weight of lying to him, was gone by now

“Robby…” you didn’t know what to say rather than what you did

You kissed him.

It was your first time kissing him.

Robby froze for half a second but not because he didn’t want it. Because he clearly hadn’t expected it.

Your hand instinctively grabbed the front of his jacket softly, like you needed something steady to hold onto, and his free hand immediately moved to your waist carefully, giving you every chance to pull away if you wanted.

But you didn’t.

You kissed him like someone terrified he would disappear.

And maybe part of you was.

The kiss was soft, hesitant at first, full of nerves and unsaid things. Nothing rushed, nothing overwhelming. Just warmth.

When you finally pulled back, Robby stayed close enough that his forehead almost brushed yours.

“There she is,” he whispered softly.

Your brows pulled together slightly. “What?”

“That smile.” His thumb stroked gently beneath your eye. “Been waiting to see it all night.”

Your chest tightened painfully.

Nobody had ever looked at you the way Robby did.

Like you were something delicate instead of damaged.

A tiny gasp interrupted the moment.

You both turned instantly.

Riven was still peeking from behind the hallway wall with huge scandalized eyes.

“Oh my goodness.” baby said with her words tripping

You covered your face immediately. “Riven—”

“You kissed him.”

Robby pressed his lips together hard, clearly trying not to laugh.

“It was one kiss, baby.”

Riven looked at him, then back at you.

“Are you gonna marry him now?”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Your jaw dropped so fast it hurt.

Robby outright choked on air beside you.

“Okay,” you muttered weakly, “that’s enough cartoons for you.”

“But Princess Ana kissed the man and then—”

“I know what happened to Princess Ana.”

Robby finally lost the battle against his laughter, head dropping slightly as a warm laugh escaped him.

And the sound filled your apartment so naturally that it almost made your eyes sting again.

Riven walked closer without hesitation now, still holding Lady Sparkles tightly under her arm.

“You smell like hospital,” she informed Robby seriously.

“That’s devastating news.”

“And coffee.”

“…That one’s fair.”

She nodded wisely.

Then held her arms up suddenly toward him without warning. Your heart nearly stopped.

Because Riven never did that with strangers.

Ever.

Robby looked at you immediately first, checking silently if it was okay.

And when you gave the tiniest nod, he picked her up carefully like she was something precious.

Riven settled against him without fear, tiny hand playing with the zipper of his jacket.

And something inside your chest cracked wide open at the sight.

Because she looked so small in his arms.

Safe.

Robby looked at her like he already knew he’d protect her if she ever let him.

“You’re heavy,” he teased gently.

“I’m big now,” she corrected.

“Oh, my mistake.”

“I’m three.”

“Well that’s basically forty.”

Riven giggled loudly.

You stood there watching them, feeling almost outside your own body. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

You weren’t supposed to want this.

Not after everything. Not after spending years convincing yourself nobody could ever truly love you after knowing the truth.

But Robby stood in your apartment holding your daughter like it was the easiest thing in the world.

And when his eyes found yours again, there wasn’t pity in them.

There wasn’t disgust.

Just care.

Just him.

“Can I stay a little?” he asked quietly.

Riven even made a pouty face, like she begged you

And for the first time in a very long time—

“Yes,” came easily.

⸺ “Why are you always frowning?” - “Why are you always... existing near me with joy?”

⸺ “Smile more.” - “You smile enough for the both of us.”

⸺ “You’re not actually mad at me.” - “I’m always mad at you.” - “You’re literally smiling right now.”

⸺ “Let me in. Stop pretending you don’t care.” - “I’m not pretending.” - “You brought me soup when I sneezed once.”

⸺ “You hate everyone but me.” - “Don’t test that.”

⸺ “I like when you laugh.” - “I don’t laugh.” - “You just did.”

⸺ “If you punch someone for being rude to me again, I swear—” - “—they deserved it.”

⸺ “You keep acting like you don’t like me.” - “Because when I do, I fall too hard. And I don’t know how to do soft.”

⸺ “You're like a grumpy little cactus.” - “And you’re like a hyper golden retriever. We shouldn’t work.”

Staff. We've talked about this. We've talked about moving the buttons around on mobile. I have spent almost fifteen YEARS on this website, building a muscle memory for likes and reblogs. And now you move it.

Put it back.