The house was spotless. Not a single speck of dust was left un-dealt with and not a throw pillow, book, or even fiber of carpet was left out of place. Alfred sat on the stairs in the front foyer while his eyes slid back and forth as he watched his British counterpart pace back and forth like an angry and very paranoid bee. His loafers- that had been buffed to a prefect shine- clicked and clacked on the hard wood floor with every anxious step he took. Alfred sigh knowing that there would probably be a rut in the floor where he had been pacing for all these hours. Arthur's wild gaze turned to Alfred as soon as he made the nearly silent noise and he stormed over to him. "Fix your bloody tie. I don't want her to think we live in some kind chaotic mess." The other fumed as he pushed up on the knot of Alfred's tie to the point where it had just about cut off his airway.

"Jeeze Artie… if you wanna gag me I'm all for it, but at least wait until we get the bedroom later." He coughed out a sex joke which only earned him a swift smack to the side of the head.

"I'll have none of your vulgar behavior under this roof." Arthur scolded as he finished adjusting the American's tie from normal to freakishly tight. As soon as Arthur looked away and returned to his pacing Alfred hooked his finger around the knot of his tie and loosened the silk strip so he at the very least could breathe.

The two lapsed into a tense silence as Arthur returned to his nervous pacing. Tick tock tick tock tick the pendulum in the base of the old grandfather clock swung back and forth as time slowly chugged forward making the already crazily anxious Arthur balance over the edge of insanity. Two minutes past three o'clock- the appointed time Mary Jo and her fiancé were supposed to visit the Kirkland-Jones home- he nearly freaked. "They're not coming. This was a horrible mistake. I've done something wrong and now they aren't coming." Alfred always knew Arthur was a worrier, but this was just ridiculous. The American knew this was a very important meeting for the Brit- for him as well- for them as a couple but Alfred didn't know it was driving him this crazy.

"Artie relax; it's only two minutes past three. You can't expect them to be here right on the dot. There's probably traffic or an accident." But no matter how much the American soothed there seemed to be nothing that could calm his paranoid husband down. Five minutes late…. Seven minutes late… eight minutes late….

The bell rang.

Arthur practically rocket launched himself to the door; gripping the golden knob and breathing in a shaky nervous breath to try and compose himself. "The bloody fucks sake, stand up." He hissed at Alfred who was still sitting casually sprawled out on the stair case. Alfred heaved himself up and shoved his hands in his pockets as he waited for Arthur to open the door meet- hopefully- the future carrier of their child.

In the true American fashion Alfred tended to lead his life with when he first laid his eyes on Mary Jo it seemed as if she was the incarnation of lady liberty herself. Just like in her pictures she had golden curly locks that bounced when she walked. Her eyes a bright sky blue that shined with all its intensity. She was a good looking girl with a thin hour glass frame, curvy hips, and small delicate features. She was dressed in a red plaid skirt, white button down shirt with a thin ribbon tied in a bow around the color, and shiny Mary-Jane style heels on her feet. A smile graced her pink gloss covered lips and her eyes lit up. "Hi there!" Her voice was cheery and twanged with all the warmth of a southern accent. "Are y'all the Kirkland-Jones?" She said pointing to the two blonde men.

"Yes we are and you must be Ms. Wright, please come in." Years of practice had left Arthur able to mask his nervousness when need be in public. She thanked him graciously as the Brit opened the door wider for her to enter; a brunette man- who was later introduced as Nathan- following closely behind her. The foyer was filled with an echoing chorus of 'hello's, 'how are you's, and 'pleased to meet you's' as they all shook hands and got acquainted. After the greetings were thankfully over and done with the group moved to the living room and settled themselves among the color coordinated pillows. "Would you like something to drink? Tea, Coffee, water?" Arthur asked like the proper English gentleman he was.

"No thanks; what about you Nate." The blonde girl declined politely as she turned to where her said fiancé sat on the corner of the couch looking a little less than happy to be in Arthur and Al's home.

"No." He grumbled as his gaze slid over to Mary Jo's young round face. She shot him a small glare before turning back to Arthur and smiling apologetically. Arthur merely nodded in recognition to her attempt to compensate and sat down on the couch opposite of her where Alfred already sat. The gentleman neatly crossed his legs and folded his hands in his lap.

"So uh… please Ms. Wright… tell us about yourself…"Arthur began as he motioned that the floor was open for her to take.

"Oh please call me Mary Jo you don't have to be so formal." She laughed as she waved a hand dismissively at his less than casual approach. He nodded his head in agreement. "Well I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My dad was American and my mum was English…"

"Oh really, what part?" Arthur's curiosity peaked as he wondered which part of his wonderful country this dear girl's mother had come from.

"Born and raised in London. We go there at least once every year to go and visit my grandparents and the rest of my family."

"Really? I'm from London myself." It didn't take the famous Sherlock Holmes to figure that one out. She smiled back politely. For what may have been several hours the two couples went back and forth exchanging stories about their lives; well Mary Jo, Arthur, and Alfred did anyway. Nathan just seemed to sit there in the corner of the couch pouting out of his mind while he rested his head in the palm of his hand. Occasionally Alfred would crack a joke or try to get Nathan even remotely involved in the countless conversations, but all the brunette replied with was one word sentences and nearly inaudible grunts. Just what was this man's problem?

The two of them never found out.

"So I'm dyin' to know," Mary Jo said happily in her Okie twang as she leaned forward slightly as if she was about to learn a piece of gossip. "How'd you two meet up?" She said as she pointed to the happy couple in question.

"Well," Arthur began a little nervously as he uncrossed his legs and switched from having the right crossed over to the left one. "Um, Alfred and I used to work in the political field- well I used to Alfred still does- but we met each other at an international meeting and we went out for drinks and we kind of hit it off from there." Alfred snickered from his place next to Arthur among the couch cushions. The blonde Brit whipped his head around and shot the American a fierce green eyed glare.

"Our way of hitting it off was both getting wasted, leaning on each other, and drunkenly singing through the streets of New York." That probably wasn't the best thing to say to someone who is supposed to think you'll be a responsible parent. Arthur did his best to refrain from smacking his loud mouth husband over the head and settled for another fierce glare.

"I-I'm sorry you'll have to excuse him. There's no filter between what he thinks and what he says. Of course we refrain from those habits nowadays." He explained with an annoyed grit to his voice as he sat up straight as a pin.

"Aw relax Artie I'm sure Mary Jo knows that by your proper gentlemanly attitude." The American soothed as he wrapped one arm around Arthur's small shoulders in a silent reassurance that everything was going to be fine and that he should just sit back and relax. Alfred shot a glance to Mary Jo in a silent conveyance to agree with him in hopes that it would get his uptight husband to lighten up at least a little bit. It seemed as though the blonde girl got the hint.

"Oh yeah of course I understand. I actually I think it's actually hilarious to have such a unique way of coming together." She gave a small giggle that sounded more like a bell chiming and as her cheeks rose up in a smile they pressed against the bottom of her eyes and caused her blue eyes to shine even more brightly. "How long have you guys been married?"

"Three years. It will be four this May." Arthur explained as he took Mary Jo's calm attitude to heart and leaned back into the cushions with Alfred arm wrapped around his shoulder in a source of constant comfort.

"Oh a May wedding," She sighed dreamily as she got a distant look in her eyes as if she had begun to day dream in the middle of her sentence. "I always wanted to get married in May when all the flowers were blooming fresh from all the April rain…" There was a small nearly inaudible grunt from where Nathan still sat under his own little rain cloud. "Oh b-but uh Nate and I are gettin' married in October. Don't me wrong I-I also like October when all the leaves are changin' those pretty colors…" She said as she placed her hand over his. It was very slight, but Alfred and Arthur could definitely detect the emotion hidden in her voice, disappointment.

"Well yes of course. Fall is a very lovely time of the year." Arthur offered kindly. She merely gave a small thankful smile for Arthur's attempts at cheering her up.

Suddenly Nathan shot up from his seat; fists balled into his pockets as he glowered down at three blondes in the room. "I gotta go make a call. Be back in a minute." With that he left the way through the hall he had come through earlier and the group could hear the thud of the front door closing behind him as he exited the house. Silence hung in the air for a few brief moments as Mary Jo stared down at her hands sat folded in her lap; she nervously twisted her engagement ring back and forth on her finger.

"I-I'm sorry about him… he's not uh… very supportive of my choices in families." Her face which was once very bright and cheerfully seemed to tone down by more than a few hundred watts; the disappointment apparent in her Okie twanged voice. The blonde couple waited in silence until she continued. "He really wants me to be the surrogate for a rich family that live up in Lorristown, but the wife was real snotty and talked down to me as if I was just a tool and it was a privilege for me to carry her child. I don't like it when people treat others as if they're nothin' more than tools created for personal gain. If anything I want to be able to use my god given gift as a woman for someone who truly needs it and deserves it. Not to someone who doesn't even see me as a real person…" Both blonde men were stunned by her deep and heartfelt confession; how she had just poured her out to two people that she had just met. Although this girl seemed so very bright and cheerful on the outside on the inside she was really conflicted about following the wishes of her loved one and the ideals she had set herself to live by. The poor dear…

But she soon perked up; smacking her hands down on her lap and sitting up straight as if she had given herself an inner pep talk. "But it's my body and I should be able to do what I want with it." She turned to where and Al and Arthur still sat together on the couch. "Alfred, Arthur if you two would allow it I'd really love to be your surrogate!" Her sky blue eyes burned with fierce determination as she shouted her proposal. Matching wide eyed gazes of green and blue stared at the girl and her sudden changes in attitude and mood. They must've both been lookin at her funny because her eyes darted back and forth nervously as she pulled on the end of her skirt. "Uh… um… I-I'm sorry… did I say somethin' weird?"

Arthur was the first to snap back into the reality of things; green eyes wide with surprise as he scrutinized the blonde girl's face. "No… no of course not. It's j-just… are you sure…"

Arthur knew better than anybody that his and Arthur's relationship was looked down upon by many people; homosexual marriage was still illegal in several American states. But it's not like either Alfred or Arthur could help the fact that they fell in love… it was just something that happened. As long as they were happy what did it matter if they were gay, straight, bisexual or any other kind of sexual orientation? Wasn't happiness what all people strived for in life?

"Why wouldn't I be?" Her smile was soft, warm and graceful as she shook her head back and forth a little; those golden blonde curls bouncing as she did.

"Well it's just…" Arthur didn't know how to politely go about it.

"What Arthur is trying to say is… Nathan doesn't seem to be very comfortable with the fact we're… y'know gay…" Two hearts broken with the realization of it all. This girl who was perfect in every single way was now going to be kept out of their reach leaving them to cuddle on the bed together in the darkness of night and wonder about the one who got away. The girl who could've been the perfect mother to their perfect child. But of course perfection was an illusion that dangled in front of people and attracted them like a cat and a toy on a piece string.

"Look," Her expression gone serious, but her rosy cheeks still puffed out in a small pout. "I realize that Nate isn't the most… supportive person of this kind of thing, but if he really loves me- and I know he does- I know he'll also respect my decision and support me. He's a good guy don't worry I'm sure he'll warm up to you; you just have to give him a chance." Her sky blue eyes sparkled with stars of endless optimism. Arthur reached next to him and squeezed Alfred's hand in search of comfort; silently praying that Mary Jo was right. "Don't worry I won't let you down." There was such an assurance in her voice and it made Arthur's heart squeeze as he drew in a shaky breath. His gratefulness was left unspoken- he was at a loss for words- but was instead conveyed by a glistening emerald gaze.

Alfred on the other hand was left unable to control is rambunctious emotions. Catapulting off the couch cushions he flung his arms around the petit girl in a bone crushing hug. "Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You have no idea how much this means to us! Anything you ever need or want just say the word and it'll happen! Just thank you, thank you, thank you!" Every syllable just rushed from his mouth in a raging river set free from a dam. She only laughed- a struggled sound seeing as how her lungs were being crushed- and patted his back.

With many hugs, several 'thank you's and, way too many smiles to count the lovely couple of Alfred and Arthur bid adieu to the future mother of their child as she returned to the car where a –still- less than happy Nathan waited for her. Only when the small silver car had back up from the drive and out to the street and turned into a nothing more than a small speck on the horizon did the two return into the warmth and safety of their home and embrace like they had never embraced before.

Phew! Longest chapter so far! *sigh* well now you've met the future mother, Mary Jo and … ugh… Nathan :( But in any case hooray! Artie and Al are gonna make the coolest parents ever! XDXD Like always please review nothing makes me happier than feedback :D