It was mentioned that people might like to see Arthur returning home to find the new rabbits so I thought I'd write it. Unfortunately... I don't think this is very good, to be honest, as I had no real direction to take it, really.
So, summary: this is a sort of sequel to Little Ball of Fluff, set after they've left Harvard but before Arthur sees Matthew and Denis.
Although Arthur loved teaching, he was always happy to return home at the end of the day and relax with his boyfriend. So it was with a relieved sigh that Arthur walked through the door of their apartment and put down his briefcase. With the door shut and locked, Arthur called out to Alfred. "I'm home, love!"
The American came out of the living room, grinning as he spotted the English teacher. "Hey, babe. I still think you need to work on your, 'Honey, I'm home!'"
"Hush, you," Arthur replied as he worked on removing his coat and shoes. "I've told you plenty of times that I'm not going to do that."
"I do it," Alfred pointed out, pouting at Arthur.
Rolling his eyes, Arthur stepped towards him and looped his arms around Alfred's neck. "Are you going to greet me properly?"
"Not till you say it!"
Shaking his head in dismay, Arthur dutifully said, "Honey, I'm home. Is tha-?" He was promptly cut off by a loving kiss, slow and sweet.
Pulling away, Alfred laughed. "Score!"
"Yes, well. I think that means it's my turn to choose what we're having for dinner."
"Aw, but Artie!" whined Alfred, putting on a pronounced pout.
Chuckling, Arthur moved away from Alfred and began to make his way to the kitchen. "All's fair in love and war, dear."
"These rules are stupid."
"No, they stop you from getting your way all the time. You get me to do something you want, I get to do what I want. Fair's fair."
"But I was really looking forward to home-made burgers!" Alfred protested, bounding into the kitchen. "I even got everything out – look!"
Indeed, Alfred had lain out the meat, ready for shaping. The woks were out on the stove, waiting to be used and the oil sat beside it. A packet of buns were waiting beside plates upon which rested the vegetables. Tomato sauce and relish were present, too.
"Hm. Well, it would be a shame to waste all this effort..." said Arthur, keeping the fact that he was now craving burgers to himself.
"Sweet!" cried Alfred, grabbing Arthur around the waist from behind. The teacher squealed and kicked his legs as Alfred lifted him and swung him to and fro. Before he could protest, though, Alfred kissed him just behind the ear and he sighed in contentment. Then Alfred shifted to murmur into his ear. "I've got a surprise for ya in the living room. Come see." He set Arthur down and hurried off.
Regaining his bearings, Arthur spun around and gave chase. "A surprise? What're you talking about, silly? You know we can't afford much, what with our student debt." Which was stopping them from getting a house instead of just a small flat. Arthur desperately wanted one; he and Alfred had been together for quite some time and he wanted to feel at home with Alfred rather than just feeling as though he was back in university, sharing a room.
"Tada!" said Alfred, cutting through Arthur's thoughts and spreading his arms wide.
Arthur blinked and glanced around, looking for what was different. The second-hand furniture was still the same, as were the stuffed bookcases. All the games consoles and the TV were still in place. The rabbits were hopping around-
"What the-?" Arthur stared at two, adorable little bunnies, wiggling their noses in the middle of the floor. Both of them were Holland Lops and Arthur felt a pang in his chest as his thoughts turned to Flopsy. One was brown with small, white patches while the other was white with small, black patches. The brown one stopped what it was doing and brought up its front paws to rub at its nose. "Oh, my gosh," Arthur breathed, staring at them in awe.
"Haha, did I do good?" asked Alfred, coming up beside Arthur and wrapping his arms around him. Nuzzling into his boyfriend, Arthur nodded and then shook his head, not sure what to feel. Alfred laughed at that and Arthur poked him. Alfred yelped.
"Where on Earth did you get them?"
"They were in the university. There was a woman in the Biology department who brought them in and was giving them away. But no-one wanted the last two so I took 'em. I did do good, right?"
"Idiot," sighed Arthur. "We don't have anything we need to take care of rabbits."
"We can go do that on our lunch break tomorrow, if ya want. And there's lettuce and stuff in the kitchen."
"I thought that was for the burgers."
"We can let them get some, too." Alfred tugged Arthur towards the newest addition to the household. "I've not given them names yet – what d'ya think? Can we call the brown one Anakin?"
"What?! No!"
"Please!"
Arthur glared at him. "If we do, we call the other one Jar-Jar."
"Urgh. Fine. How about Mal?"
"I- Wait. Are they male or female?" Arthur asked, frowning down at them.
"Both male, I think."
"You think? Wonderful." Arthur rolled his eyes at Alfred.
"Look, I'll double-check tomorrow but, in the meantime, can I go make burgers?" Alfred grinned at Arthur. "I've had most of the day with them. You should get to know them, too!"
"All right," sighed Arthur, rolling his eyes as Alfred whooped and rushed out of the room. Obediently, he knelt down beside them and let the closest – the brown one – sniff at his hand. "Hello, there," he said. He watched the other inching closer to him and remembered Flopsy doing the same. All at once, he felt his heart constrict and expand at the same time, though he knew it was filled with love for his amazing boyfriend.
According to the biologist, they were both male (so Arthur asked Alfred to find time to take them to the vet to get them neutered) and they named them Philip and Kristoff. Arthur was amused to hear Alfred return home some days and ask how his sons were doing. He was a little less amused and rather embarrassed when he began to call Arthur his wife.
And he was even less amused when he came home one day to find a concerned Alfred on the floor, stroking Kristoff worriedly.
"What's wrong?" Arthur asked, immediately hurrying over.
"I... I dunno. But... He's kinda gotten fat, dontcha think?"
Glancing between the two rabbits, he did notice the difference between the two and he frowned. "That's odd. They've both been eating the same amount, more or less."
"D'ya think he's ill?"
"Maybe. We'd better get him to a vet. Which one did you take them to?"
"Whuh?" Alfred's eyes widened and he sat up straight.
Arthur's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, 'whuh'? The vet you took them to – do they stay open late?"
"Uh..." Slowly, Alfred began to get up. Arthur continued frowning at him. "Er... I... may have forgotten...?"
"What do you mea-?" Arthur froze and then looked between the two unconcerned rabbits. "Oh, God. Please. Please tell me you're joking. Tell me you took them to get neutered."
"Ahahaha... ha...?" said Alfred, nervously, starting to back up.
"Alfred!" Arthur cried, getting up. "You promised! And- And that biologist! They must have gotten them mixed up with the other rabbits!"
"What d'ya mean-?"
"Kristoff's-!" Arthur paused and took a deep breath. "The other day I caught Philip... Well. I thought it was some sort of leftover instincts but now I have the feeling that he's a she and she's probably pregnant since you never got Philip neutered!"
Wide-eyed, Alfred mouthed at him. Then, finally, Alfred said, "Oh."
"Oh?" Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"Look, I'm sor-"
"Al, we're still paying off student debts! We can't afford however many baby rabbits we're going to have! It's a miracle we've been able to take care of Philip and Kristoff up till now!"
Biting his lip, Alfred lowered his gaze, guilt written across his face and in his slumped posture. Then he glanced back up. "I suppose we should take him- her... Kirstoff to the vet?"
Arthur sighed. "Yes. Philip, too. I can't believe you forgot..."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine, love. Just... don't do it next time." He gave Alfred a peck on the cheek which cheered the poor man up a little. "But we're still not keeping all the babies." That rather dampened his spirits...
By the time Kristoff gave birth, Alfred had tried to persuade Arthur to keep them using tactics such as surprise romantic evenings, spouting horrifying or amazing facts and straightforward pleading. Of course, Arthur had rebuffed them all and had even prepared himself for the inevitable argument which would happen on the day of birth. Sure enough, as soon as the five tiny bunnies were born, Alfred spoke up.
"Look at 'em," he whispered, towering over them. "They're adorable. Are you sure you-?"
"No," said Arthur, not even looking at his boyfriend. He raised the camera and took a quick picture. "We're going to let other people have the fun of keeping rabbits. And we're getting Kristoff spayed."
"Please!"
"Al..."
"But... It's so unfair!" Alfred pouted at Arthur and, sighing, Arthur leaned over to peck him on the cheek. Alfred moved away. "Why can't we keep them?"
"I've told you – numerous times – why we can't."
"Yeah, but, we can figure out a way to get by and pay off our debt. I mean, I'm sure I'm pretty close to a breakthrough in my research."
Arthur didn't bother to ask – the last time he had, he hadn't understood a word Alfred had said. "Look, Al, I know you think we'd manage but do you really think I want to live in this apartment for the rest of our lives. And-" He broke off, realising he was about to talk about his unvoiced fantasies about the future. After all, he wanted to do so much with Alfred – all of which cost rather large amounts of money. Shrugging, he looked away, gazing down at the little family.
"Oh!" said Alfred, suddenly. Arthur glanced up at him and found Alfred blushing and staring at him. "I. Well. I see. Okay. Right, well. We better find someone to take them in, then? And then... we could see what sort of houses we can afford...?"
"Wha-? Al..." Surprised and pleased, Arthur felt himself tear up a little. To hide it, he threw his arms around Alfred and hugged him tight. "Idiot. At least wait until we've paid everything off. I can survive here for a while longer."
Alfred's arms wrapped around Arthur's waist. "I know. But... you shoulda said something. How am I supposed to know you want a white picket fence? How American of you!"
Whacking him on the shoulder, Arthur shook his head. "Shut it." With his tears under control, Arthur pulled back and smiled at Alfred. "Anyway, we have the babies for a few weeks before we can take them from their mother so you don't need to be so down."
"Really?" Alfred grinned at him.
"Really," said Arthur and kissed his wonderful boyfriend.
