Mellow! Well, I think I can probably finish the fanfic (though it will take time) despite the difficulties. Hope you enjoy, just one more chapter before Alfred gets caught by Arthur for not doing his studies!
Thank you for the reviews:
ASJK (it's not going to be fun for Alfie)
Part 1
Chapter 3
Arthur brought Alfred, or more like, Alfred brought him into town. There were people scattered around the place, rushing off to and fro with busy lives. Essentially life as usual.
"So where are we going?" Alfred asked loving the buzz around him. The boy loved living out of town, because he could be alone if he wanted. But as social as he was, it was great to just ran through the town.
Honestly, Arthur didn't know yet. He was just thinking that a little walk would make him feel better after the long trip by sea. "Hmm...where would you like to go?"
"Um..." The toy store was always one of his favorites. Alfred wondered if Arthur would take him.
"We can go anywhere you'd like." Arthur offered kindly to the little boy.
"Toys?" He finally got the confidence to asked. Of course that didn't mean Arthur would buy him one, but he was hopeful.
Arthur had more or less been expecting something like that, and really how could he refuse? "I suppose we could..."
"Come on then," the colony tugged on Arthur's arm.
"Patience, Alfred, patience. It's hot outside." Arthur decided to complain at last. He wasn't used to these mucky temperatures, having come from his own country.
"Oh? Is it?" It didn't seem to be that hot to Alfred. The little one simply had no idea that the other was struggling.
"Yes, it is." Arthur now knew he was dressed in too many layers, he forgot often that his usual clothes weren't very good when he visited America.
"I guess I don't notice." Though the child was wearing shorts and a thin shirt, without shoes.
Arthur was dressed fit as any nobleman would, and he noticed that was a bad idea. No wonder Alfred never wanted to wear anything he suggested. "I don't know how you take this heat."
Alfred shrugged, "I go swimming a lot." Plus he hated the cold with a passion.
"I see why," Arthur sighed. He'd definitely change when they got back.
"Can we go swimming later?" Alfred asked, thinking that might help Arthur and it would be really fun.
Arthur thought about it, he didn't like swimming all that much. But, it might be just the thing that day. "I'll think about it."
"Okay," Alfred was fine with that, because that meant that if he begged enough then they would go.
Arthur just focused on bringing Alfred to a decent toy store, not wanting something shabby for the boy. There were a number of cheaper shops for more peasant like people. Arthur had the money though and he was not one for ever buying something unless it was of good quality. Alfred of course wouldn't have notice either way. Even so, the Englishman did in fact notice. He brought Alfred into somewhere fancy, or rather as fancy as it got in the colonies.
Alfred just bounced around the whole store, never staying anywhere very long. There was just so much to look out in there.
"Alfred, calm yourself." The boy already looked like a rag doll, Arthur didn't need him acting like a bouncing bean as well.
"Why?" The child was just really happy Arthur was back and stuff.
"You're going to break something." Arthur shook his head and picked the boy up. God he was getting big, but he didn't care either way. "Let's pick you out something nice, hmm?"
"Really?" He had been looking at something in particular, but he didn't think Arthur would get it for him.
"Yes, do you see anything you want?" Arthur asked, now that he had the child under control.
Alfred picked up a fake rifle, he held it up and pretended to shoot the stuff toys around. With this he could be a hero like the in Arthur's old war stories, the boy was sure of it.
Arthur laughed, coming up behind the child and helping him hold it like one would a real gun. The colony had the right idea, his form wasn't exactly right though.
With Arthur's help he adjusted his hold on the toy. "Can I get this?"
"Of course," Arthur thought he could teach the child positions and such with it as well, so the purpose only doubled.
"Awesome!" The boy cheered loudly.
The man looked at the price tag and took out enough money to purchase the item, as well as a bit extra for the shop keeper. Alfred entertained himself by shooting random things, trying to stay in position but often failing to as he waited.
The man paid, and went to go retrieve Alfred, before he actually damaged something. "Now, let's go get you a pair of boots."
"Why?" He looked down at his dirty feet and wiggled his toes.
"Because, it's not sophisticated of a young lad to be running around bare foot. You've got no class at the moment, Alfred." Arthur figured he had outgrown the pair he last left him with and never bothered to get another set. Just another thing that happens when he leaves for so long.
"Aww, but I don't like wearing 'em. Except when it's cold." Alfred only wore them because he didn't like his toes to get cold in winter.
"But you need to start doing so. You look like a pauper." The way Arthur saw it, there was no reason Alfred should dress so badly. They had enough money that there was never any worry for it.
"Fine," Alfred grumbled, only because it would make Arthur feel better.
"Honestly, Alfred. I need to get you new clothes." He left the boy alone for a while, and he completely let himself go.
"Does that mean shopping for them?" Alfred crinkled his nose finding that to be boring.
"How else would we get them?" Arthur wasn't one for actually sewing things himself, though he did like crochet.
"I don't know," to that Alfred had no answer.
"See? We'll get you something nice to wear. And things to play in too." Arthur decided, which should last the child for a while.
Alfred nodded, seeing as he didn't have much choice.
And it really wasn't going to be a choice, but Arthur would let the boy help pick. "It's settled then, come on."
Alfred followed, half hanging on to Arthur's arm for the fun of it.
Arthur didn't mind, of course. He had missed the little boy. And despite his current shabby appearance, Alfred was adorable when cleaned up. Of course, Alfred hadn't bathed in a while, so that was something to think about.
"You're such a dirty little boy, but I'm glad to see you." Arthur sighed. Alfred needed to be scrubbed down, really.
Alfred hugged his arm, "I'm glad your back." He didn't admit it, but he got really lonely.
"I am too." If it wasn't for his king, he would have been back much sooner. But, he wouldn't tell that to the little boy. There was no need to explain complicated matters to him right then, later he could know.
"Even though you make me do silly stuff."
"I wouldn't call dressing and bathing to impress silly." Arthur said rolling his eyes. "Impressions are important."
The boy couldn't agree with that really, "Still silly to me."
Arthur shook his head, searching for a decent shop. Some days there is no really winning.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Hetalia*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alfred was now squeaky clean and had a new wardrobe, though they didn't have time for swimming. "I don't want to go to bed now," he complained when Arthur told him to.
"I've already let you stay up late, Alfred. It's time for bed, come on." Arthur kissed the top of the boy's head.
"No," Alfred crossed his arms with a firm pout. For one thing, with a lack of supervision he was now use to staying up late.
"Alfred," Arthur warned, though he really didn't want to fight with the boy so soon after getting back in America. "I won't ask again. Let's not make this hard when I just got here."
Alfred wasn't budging unless he got at least story, like normal. "No," he whined.
"Come on, Alfred. Please?" Arthur wasn't aware that Alfred would still like a story before bed, since he seemed to have gotten much bigger.
"Only if you read to me." Alfred decided to argue it out if he had to.
The elder blinked, "Oh, you'd like that?" He asked, surprised that it was something so simple.
"Yes," he knew it was childish now that he could read easily. But, it was something he missed.
Arthur smiled, not minding at all. "Do you have a book you'd like to hear, love?"
"Uh-huh," he went running to find it.
Arthur took a seat on the edge of the boy's bed, waiting for him to come back with what he wanted him to read. Alfred scurried back with a book with fairy tales, it had always been his favorite. He loved the knights that always saved everyone.
This was cute to Arthur, considering he remembered getting the book for Alfred. "That's a good one." He himself always had loved fairytales.
Alfred crawled up in bed and gave him the book. Arthur invited the child to sit next to him, setting to book out in front of them both before beginning to read it aloud. The young one snuggled a bit, eventually getting sleepy.
The man paused for a moment after the first tale, "Do you want me to read more? Or are you ready for bed?"
"More," Alfred slurred, his eye lids almost shut.
Arthur figure that if he read a little more, Alfred would fall asleep. So he went ahead and did so. A few minutes later, he could hear the lad's snores.
Seeing that Alfred was asleep, Arthur picked him up and set him on his pillow, tucking the blanket over the boy.
