A/N:
Alrighty, so this is my first fanfic *asdfghjkl* *takes deep breath*. I'm going to see how this does (hope fully well! *fingers crossed*) and then see where it goes from there.
Uhm, I don't own Alex urner or the Arctic Monkeys. Just le plot.
PS I know that the AM aren't a fandom but this is the only site that I'm really aware of where I can post fanfic (till new to wattpad and etc) so I feel comfortable with this. Please don't eat me.
PPS I also forgot to mention the boys' accents and Dario/Livia/Sandra/Claud (Swiss)! I'm sorry! But they will be referenced later so if you're wondering where that came from, I am apologising now ;3
xoxo,
SF
Sofia huffed, arms straining against her heavy paper bags, heels clacking rhythmically against the rise of the sloping side walk. She smiled a slow smile thinking of the day's purchases, proud that she had been able to get so much at satisfactory prices.
'I guess Mom's affinity to ridicule prices did rub off on me. Ha, and I used to be so embarrassed when she started haggling. Hehe, my kids are going to be SO embarrassed, just like me. Well, more saved money for me and my future luxury.' She thought sadly before snickering again at her future kids' expense. Lost in her musings she stumbled on a pebble the size of her fist. She raised an eyebrow, giving the rest of the extremely bare sidewalk a cursory glance. The pebble had most certainly not been on the sidewalk this morning.
She heard a small childish laugh and turned to the nearest set of bushes, setting her bags on the ground. Glancing up again she realised she was only 50 metres from the entrance of her hotel. If she'd continued on her musings she would probably have walked right past it.
Putting her hands on her hips and heaving a sigh of resignation, she called out, "Alright, you little monster! Come on out or I'll tell mommy and someone won't be hearing a bed time storey tonight!"
"VAT! Neh! Canth do zat! Wivve's gunna go teh ze mooooon t'day. Mummy vont wead me teh buk! She vont, she vont! Pwease Safya!" A slender little boy sprang out of the bushes dusting his sweater and swivelling half pleading, half demanding eyes on her. He crossed his arms and stomped his small foot for emphasis.
Sofia raised her eyebrows, inwardly smirking at the little boy. 'God, he is so adorable. He'll hit me if I tell him though. Fooey.' Letting out an audible sigh she bent down until she was at eye level with the toddler. At this point he was hastily trying to blink glassy eyes away.
"Aw, Claud, don't worry. Willy will go to the moon tonight and Claud will help him defeat aliens every step of the way." Sofia consoled the toddler, brushing leaves and twigs out of his hair before bringing him in for a tight hug.
She waited until his sniffles died away before letting him go and giving him a quick peck on the cheek. He eyed her warily, and then smiled hesitatingly.
"You pwomise?" he gasped hopefully before putting his hands on his hips again, "You canth call meh Clath. Sandwa gunna waff! Only Claio!" He added huffily. He looked almost comical and had he started tapping his foot Sofia would have burst out laughing.
"Only if Claudio apologises, and don't worry, Sandra won't say anything." Sofia admonished sternly.
"Vy? You maketh fun of meh. Ven you was gunna fall ith was funneh! You wook wike a tholt" the little toddler giggled.
"Oh, really? I'm going to enjoy shampooing your head tonight you little rascal. Now, let's go. Cedric promised me soup!" Sofia rolled her eyes, collecting her bags and turning again to the toddler.
Claudio scuffed his feet and started at the floor before turning a determined face up at Sofia.
"I... I'm..sa..sawwy Safya. Thithent vant you to hurt! Jus thot it was funneh" he muttered looking at the ground.
Sofia looked down at the boy and gave a small smile thinking over how far they had come in the span of the week she had spent at his family's hotel. They had started out as enemies (his reputation for trouble-making preceded him) and had settled into a far more companionable relationship. They could almost be considered partners in crime (heaven knew, with the pranks they pulled) if it weren't for the fact that they still pranked each other as well; if the rock was anything to go by.
In that moment Sofia understood why she was so taken with this trouble making toddler. He reminded her of her brothers back in Canada, whom she missed terribly, despite their tendency to annoy the heck out of her.
She cleared her throat and glanced around hoping Claud wouldn't see that she was tearing up. He would exploit it if he could. Ahead of them she could see the chateau styled hotel beckoning her with its delicious whisperings of food and comfort. Further along the hotel she could see a couple playing a doubles match in the gated tennis court.
Across the hotel was the weird hill that she had climbed with her family 3 years ago when for spring break in her last year of high school. The view from the hill was of a range of mountains that couldn't be seen from the sidewalk. Climbing the private property had been worth the risk with that view. It was the first time she had ever been to Europe. Cliche as it may be, she had fallen in love at first sight, especially with Switzerland. That year she'd gone back home and told anyone that would listen that she was going to retire to Switzerland in her old age.
Her family had stayed in the same hotel she was at now for two days. Back then Claudio had just been a new born. Sofia smiled, remembering his sister Alessandra, then four, carrying him through the dining hall.
She looked down at him to see him staring up at her questioningly.
"Alright, I accept your apology little sir. Now, I really want some soup. How about we head back now, hmmmm? And what is your mommy going to say? No leaving the hotel by yourself little man. Even if you are waiting to maim me." she said with a wry smile, tweaking his nose.
He snorted and swatted her hand away before extending his arms in the air. Sofia smirked at him and bent down to lift him up, rearranging him on her hip before grabbing her bags again.
"Good. Now. Give us a kiss." she teased, knowing the little boy would get riled up.
"Neh. You are a gurl. Got coooties." he snapped, scrunching up his face.
"No? Alright then," Sofia faked a sigh, ambling down the sidewalk, "I guess Sandra will love the two chocolate bars I bought. Maybe I'll help her eat them." she giggled musingly.
They were by the path leading into the hotel now when Sofia stopped seeing something she had missed before. A large tour bus was parked across the road from the tennis court. 'Oy vey, I can't deal with loud noisy tourists. That's my job!...It can't be a school, it's summer. Maybe they couldn't find a hotel in the city?'
"SAFYA!"
"OW, Claud! What is wrong with you?!"
The little boy looked mutinous. "Wathent wistenin' to meh! Siwwy!"
"Oi. Ok, what were you saying?" Sofia asked heading into the open entrance of the hotel.
"I saaay, you wudenth dare. Sandwa only geth vun! Vun, vun, vun, VUN!" He bellowed in her ear.
"Good lord Claud, with lungs like that you could outrun professional football players." Sofia muttered rubbing her ear. She walked around the reception desk where there was a small queue, no doubt the new guests probably waiting for room keys and in through the open doors that lead to a homely office of the Birchmeier family.
"Sofia! Thank goodness you returned early today, darling!" a shapely woman in her mid thirties sighed before adding "Claudio, sweety, get off of aunty Sofia, let her rest for a bit. Ask Sandra to fetch her a glass of water!"
Sofia tightened her grip on the boy. "I'm waiting for my kiss Claud." she smiled mischievously.
Claudio sighed, rolling his eyes. For a three year old he was very snobby. He quickly gave her a peck before she set him down.
He then ran over to greet his mother, Livia Birchmeier before heading out the door. 'haf to fin' Sandwa. Tew her onwy I get chocowate.' He laughed out loud before stopping at the door and calling Sofia over.
"Come here!" he demanded sweetly extending his arms. Sofia eyed him warily before squatting to reach his eye level whilst maintaining a healthy distance. He was up to something.
"Yes?" she asked, eyeing him skeptically.
"Didunth give you kissy on otha cheek!" He replied handsomely and leant forward to give her another peck. Sofia raised her eyebrows but leant forward obligingly and let him give her a kiss.
She could hear a chorus of 'awwwwws' coming from over the reception desk which the room was situated behind, where Mr. Birchmeier was looking very over worked. Sofia smiled and gave him a wave.
Right when she was about to stand up, Claud quickly locked his arms around her neck and pulled her head back to - "OW! You little monster, I knew you were up to something! He bit me!" Sofia groused rubbing her cheek hearing a chorus of guffaws from over the reception desk. Her audience had turned on her and most likely were taken with the little devil!
"Dahdy!" Claud yelled letting go of Sofia and running into the older man's arms.
"You cheeky little rascal. Don't worry Sofie, sweety, he'll get an extra long bath for that." Dario Birchmeier laughed pinching the little boy's cheeks.
"VAT!" Claud squawked, an astonished look on his face, "But dahdy! You soppos' to be my dahdy! Sofya's gunna put champoo on my head!"
A round of laughter went around the lobby again, Sofia joining in. "Oh we'll see. Maybe I'll use girly shampoo so you smell like - oof"
"SOFIA! SOFIA, SOFIA, SOFIA, YOU'RE BACK!" A screaming bundle of purple and yellow launched itself onto Sofia, giggling and squeezing the daylights out of her.
"Alessandra! I asked you to get her some water, not attack her!" Livia yelled trying to pry the little bundle off of Sofia.
"I think the kids in this family have it in for me!" Sofia gasped lifting Sofia onto her hip and giving her a peck on the cheek.
Sandra giggled again and buried her face into Sofia's neck before looking up and giving her a blinding grin, "I missed you! So did Claudio, he kept asking me to call you! "
"Neh! I didenth! Sandwa's lyin'!" Claud vigorously shook his blushing head at Sofia's laughing face.
And of course, Sandra didn't miss a beat, all in one breath "- And I drew a dress, like the one you're wearing. But the one I drew doesn't have flowers. It has spirals, and beads, and there's lace, and it's so pretty! I'm going to get married in it! But you have to help me, I didn't know how to draw the bottom like a princess'! And I want to see if you like it. You have to like it, OK? "
Laughing, Sofia interrupted Sandra, "OK sweety, breathe. I will definitely look at your dress in a bit but why don't you and Claud go to the lounge and play for a bit? I think your mummy and daddy could use a little help. And then I can give you a little surprise too, hmmm?"
"Is shocolate! The supwise is shocolate!" Claud yelled out.
"OK. And you'll spend time with me too right? We can play dress up and stuff?" the petite girl asked smiling.
"Of course, when everything settles down in a bit." Sofia promised giving her another kiss.
Sandra smiled her brilliant smile and gave Sofia another tight hug before being set down. She grabbed Claud's arm and started walking away from the counter towards the lounge. Claudio turned back around and yelled "She got two kisses, you wike her more, s'not FAIR!"
He stomped his foot for emphasis and then ran ahead of Sandra.
"Oh, don't listen to him, you baby him too much, he just enjoys the attention." Livia said placing a comforting arm around a surprised Sofia.
'I hope he doesn't stay mad...' Sofia thought worriedly turning back to Livia and Dario (they had insisted she call them that). "So, what do you need my help with?"
"Oh, no, no, no, no, you are a guest, you will not be working! You've been out all day, get up to your room and rest young lady." Livia scolded, hands on her hips.
Sofia rolled her eyes in Dario's direction, who was valiantly trying to cover a violent cough that sounded like 'lier'.
Laughing, she turned back to Livia, "OK. I'm going to go upstairs and put my stuff away and then I'm coming back to either help at the front desk or in the kitchens, or even with the kids. Alright? Good." Without waiting for a response she walked back into the office to collect her things.
'God, it's messy in here. Alright, must change, eat, help. Then sleep. Soooo tired. Danm it. And I promised I'd call Miriam too.' Sofia sighed and rubbed her face.
Dario turned back to the queue at the desk while Livia went to check on the kids. "I'm so sorry about the distraction miss; we're having a hectic week. Here is you room key," he apologized to the comely young lady who left in a huff. 'What is it with Fridays and crazy business? Thank god for Sofia.' he thought turning back to the line.
But the line seemed to have digressed and now he was just looking at what seemed to be a sea of people. "Ladies and gentleman, if everyone could please form an orderly line this would all go by much faster!" he sighed tiredly. The group at the front started jostling around until at least a semblance of a line appeared.
"Be back in a sec Dario" He turned back to see Sofia, bags and shoes in hand trudging along miserably out of the office and into the hallway. 'Poor thing, she looks exhausted. All that shopping and I would too. Women.' he thought rolling his eyes and turning back to help the next customer.
Dario looked up as the portly middle aged man made his way down the hall and to the stairs. That was the fifth customer. He checked his computer, they were nearly fully booked! Only four rooms remained; a suite and three singles. He looked up counting eight people with luggage separated into two groups. Something was wrong. He beckoned the group of four men who had been waiting quite a while but the second group intercepted and came up first. He smiled apologetically to the men at the back but they returned reassuring hands.