Chapter Four
With about thirty minutes to go before landing, Alfred's eyes finally became heavy. Perhaps his morning jog and catching up with his reading the night before was not his smartest moves thus far, but he needed a way to distract himself from all the excitement of flying abroad and working alongside Arthur. Of course, his assigned tasks seemed to be very menial at the moment, but he knew he could work his way up and prove his worth. After all his research of the company and its founders, he (kind of) knew what he was getting into, Alfred reasoned. And his job would officially start in twenty-eight minutes, if it had not already begun.
So taking a quick nap, was out of the question, wasn't it? This could be a test to see if the young man had enough endurance to even last as Arthur's secretary. However, no one was really watching him, Patrick had already drifted off an hour ago and last Alfred checked (about a second ago, he couldn't resist sneaking glances at the smaller man beside him), Arthur was reading. Therefore he could a ford to rest his eyes if he wasn't needed, and it didn't appear that he was. The young graduate continuously fought with keeping his eyes open, glancing at his boss every other second to reassure himself, but they were desperately losing. No matter how bright the sun shown through the window, hitting his face, his eyes gave way and closed.
Not even a second passed by before Arthur excitingly exclaimed that the young man looked familiar, causing the American to jump a foot in the air.
"Pardon there, chap, I didn't mean to startle you," the sandy blond tried to smother his chuckles, but failed because Alfred looked so disoriented with his cerulean eyes filled with haze. "You simply looked like someone I know, but cannot for the life of me remember who that is. And you said you have no relations to our company right? Hmm, that is peculiar. It must have been the combination of the angle of the lighting, your hair, and peaceful expression or something." Arthur realized he was rambling and was glad his brother was asleep and Alfred too drowsy to comprehend the embarrassing excess chatter. "From what little I know of you already, you being still for long is not natural, but I really cannot say can I? No, I suppose not, the person you remind me of is the complete opposite of what I think you to be. So perhaps that was another factor, you see, this person I speak of is usually very still to the point of disappearing or going unnoticed. Not that it really matters or anything, you just didn't... oh, just go back to your nap-"
Or so he thought.
Patrick erupted into a fit of laughter, surprising Alfred once more. "What were you doing there, Art? Staring at the boy as he fell asleep. Not creepy at all," he shook his head, voice thick with sarcasm. "Let the poor lad get some rest before he mets mum and the rest of the family. No matter how energetic Al appears to be on his good days, he'll need it all to keep up with the eight of us, plus Liam's and Morgan's to-be-new-addition-but we won't count that little one yet on account of not even born for another month or so."
"I was not staring. I glance up and before I knew it, my mouth just ran from me. But look at him," Arthur gestured towards the alert man beside him, "doesn't he look a tad-bit familiar?"
Emerald eyes similar to that of Arthur's, yet not as deep and rich quite like his, analyzed Alfred. Those eyes, as the young man had read form a tabloid or two have dubbed Patrick as "Playboy Kirkland," and now those eyes were trained on him. It was unsettling to say the least, especially due to his grogginess. "What? Like an ex of yours?"
"Yeawahyohe- NO!" Arthur's mouth knotted itself up.
Chuckling, Patrick finally took him seriously and tilted his head to the right then the left tapped his chin, crossed his legs, squinted his eyes, and huffed in resignation. His kid brother was on to something, but nothing came to him. It was if a thin vail was placed over the image of somebody, but it obviously was no woman. He had an affinity for women, but this man had to have some lovely quality for Patrick to even remotely recall him.
Maybe he was smaller? Right, he was smaller than Arthur and that was pretty rare, but it really isn't womanly. Patrick thought as he continued to examine Alfred while sneaking glances at Arthur. Art said something about hair... so longer, yet still professional or else Art wouldn't have hired him. It's getting there, it's getting there. Hmm, Alfred had sky blue eyes...Eyes! "You're right! Oh! He looks like- he's- err- oh what is his damn name?" With a clap and a snap of his fingers, the redhead remembered. "William Matthews!"
"Matthew Williams, you dolt," Arthur recalled simultaneously. "He's in charge of the offices in Ottawa... Or is it Toronto?"
The older of the two Kirklands rested his head on his hand in mock disappointment. "And you call me the dolt. Well you better find out soon before your yearly visit. We don't want you to land in the wrong city and get kidnapped when you manage to get lost in the shady part of whichever city. Surely thugs there will kidnap you ask for a ransom to get you back, but by then it might be to late for our frail younger brother! Oh mum would be devastated and we will miss you so!"
"No you wouldn't," Arthur glared.
"Well you're right, but that is not the point," Patrick grinned. It was so much fun to designate Arthur as the damsel in distress when they were children and even so today. The last time he, Liam, James, and even Fiona supposedly played together was about when Arthur was fourteen years old. They tied him to a tree, claiming James needed to shoot a scene for his movie while Fiona needed the model, Patrick wanted to practice his knots, and Liam was bored. His hero, or heroine to be precise, was the young woman next door who Arthur had a crush on. "My main jab is that know-it-all Arthur has no clue what office our Canadian headquarters are located."
"Neither do you!"
"So? It's not one of my responsibilities!"
"It is in Ottawa," Alfred rapidly blinked, finally understanding what the two brothers were going on about.
"See!" Arthur felt proud of his new secretary even though he had persistently refused him up until they met at the airport. Of course, he was still unenthusiastic to have him because he was fully capable on his own and it hurt his pride a little to have others insist he get another secretary after the previous six employments. At least Alfred was not female, but Arthur had to admit he's had man crushes before and was a afraid to inquire for the young man's sexuality. "I was right the fir- How do you even know that, Jones?"
Just as the young man was about to respond, the gorgeous flight attendant, Mary, appeared, announcing their landing in five minutes and reminding them to put on their belts. It was too easy for Patrick to suggestively explained he could not do so, something must have caught underneath him to prevent the belt to go around the man. Mary licked her lips, and became a little too eager to assist him. After she bent over his lap to reach for the "stubborn" belt and made the other two men uncomfortable at the scene before them, she disappeared once more to talk to the pilots. Arthur dropped his head in shame of his brother while Patrick giggled like fool and Alfred chuckled along nervously. All conversation about Canada and his strikingly similar appearance to a Matthew Williams was lost to the new topic of women preferences. Of course, the assistant could not fully participate and encouraged Patrick to do most of the talking as they stepped out into the surprising sunny London afternoon. However, when he was asked, he responded the most truthful way without giving anything away.
"Haha, if Art was female and could cook, I'd gladly hand him over!" Patrick tipped the airport's valet before hopping into the diver's side, completely unaware of stunning the two men in their tracks. With sideway glances at the other, the two turned away rather quickly as a blush rapidly formed. They set their things in the trunk and climbed into their respective seats.
Attempting to act as if nothing had happened, the two brothers began to quarrel once more as soon as Arthur closed his passenger's door. Relieved at the brothers' distractions, Alfred began to furiously click away in the back on his "manly" iPhone-diary-thingy over the occurrence moments ago.
My dear super-cool-iPhone-de-stress-er-note-pad-thingy,
You. Will. Not. Believe. What. Patrick. Just. Said! "If Artie was female and could cook..." I could get Artie! What does that mean?! What if I was female, would I be able to have him then too? But I'm not, so can I still have him? Please? Although he would look deathly cute in a dress or skirt with an apron at home or adkjglafjsdflknn! The image! Can I even say deathly cute? Well he is, but it also, hot, and sexy, and attractive in every way! Okay, so I don't know if he is in every way, and those eyebrows are a little stunning, at first, but they are adorable once you take him in completely. Every possibly angle I can imagine him, he is utterly perfection except for his cooking apparently, but how bad can that be? If he was a she, I'd probably become straight for him... her? Well I don't really know... but whatever! He qualifies!
Preferences checklist!: (in no particular order)
-Smaller than me (but I am pretty tall...) -Check, I can just feel him in my arm! XD
-Athletic or likes to watch sports- Check? I couldn't tell in his suit, but in those jeans- damn he has nice legs, perhaps a runner? Tennis? Heck I'll even take Cricket or whatever. I should challenge him in something someday.
-Strong mentally & physically- Check, he seems to hold his own against his brother.
-Smart- Uh duh! He had an equivalent to a 4.0 in university! Heh heh, don't ask how I know X)
-Loves movies- Not sure, but even if they're boring like documentaries or something, I'd be there with him!
-Patient- Half check, I mean he waited for his brother and me right? That's gotta count somehow, yet it looks like he has a short fuse, but I dunno! Too early to tell.
-Kind- Well he didn't flat out refuse me, he's giving me a chance, so check! Okay, so it's actually his family forcing me onto him, but it must be faith or something! No body's always mean, so they've gotta be kind some time. Not even Natalia was always that mean.
-Understanding/Motherly-like/Great with children- Again, too early to make a judgement, but can't you just imagine Artie with our children?! X/D I mean Patrick said that the man could sew, so I can totally see him making cute little dresses for our girls and kickin' costumes for the boys!
-Can cook- Pat says no, but I'll be the judge of that, and if he can't it's not a problem because as the hero, I can definitely make the romantic dinners!
-Be romantic- Check! Pat said all he reads are cheesy romance novels so that's gotta mean he is! Oh yeah, I can bear through chick-flicks with him then and we can snuggle!
-Play
"Are you alright Alfred? You look a little warm," Patrick looked at him through the rearview mirror. He really didn't know the boy, but he swore the lad was blushing down at his phone or something. The first thought that came to mind was that the newly hired was watching something naughty, but it was quickly dismissed. Only he or Francis would look something up like that at such a random time like this, but then again, he and Francis wouldn't blush the way Alfred appeared to be doing so. A possibility nonetheless, but it could be that he was reading a text from a girlfriend, or he could just allow the young man to explain himself.
"Y-yeah, just a little warm," he tugged at his collar sheepishly just as Arthur became curious enough to spare a glance at him.
"You are right; it is a tad warmer than normally for this time of year," the sandy blond rest his chin on his knuckles. "Roll down the windows for him, Patrick. We should attempt to get the most of of this nice weather." A light smile graced Arthur's lips as windows rolled down and he set his head back, relaxing into the leather with the wind running through his hair.
As they became closer and closer to what Alfred assumed to be the men's home, he could see Arthur become more and more at ease. With his head back, he closed his eyes and began to hum shortly after. It was nothing similar to Patrick's CD, but it didn't clash either. Alfred could hardly hear it or even knew he was doing it without catching little bits of it, carried through the light wind and the occasional movement of his eyebrows. Even Patrick disregarded the stereo and hummed along what now sounded like a lullaby with the other's entrance. It felt very peaceful, but slightly eerie and out of place for the Alfred. He felt as if he was intruding on a brotherly bond because neither was snapping at the other and the two seemed to be in rapport. Similar moments would occasionally pass through him and his sister as well, but less often now that they were away from each other.
They continued on for a while loner until a simple road sign shattered the equanimity passing through the two. Arthur sat up, straightened himself, and flattened his jeans with the palm of his hands as Patrick did the opposite. The redhead slouched even further into his seat, shook a hand through his hair, making it messier than Arthur's, and sped up for some reason. Simultaneously then, the two stopped humming.
"How was mum that time you saw her?" Arthur nervously glanced out the window.
Patrick peeked back toward Arthur with a slight smirk. "Bubbly as always, but of course that was different when she last called two days ago. Mummy's boy you will not be for long~! I can't wait to she what she'll do to you once she gets her hands on you~."
"Dear God."
His brother laughed at his misfortune to come, but gathered himself up to ask whether or not they should warn Alfred.
"Warn me what?" The young man was relishing the banter between bothers and the mention of Arthur being his mother's baby, but disliked Patrick's warning tone. It was in an obvious theatric voice, but it still sent shivers down the American's spine.
Patrick's evil smirk through the rearview mirror only made it worse. "Did you ever have that old evil gorgon of a teacher or principle that no matter what you did, nothing was ever good enough? So strict that you'd rather have your arse whipped than be given a dirty look? So frightening that you could just piss yourself by a simple glance even on their best day? So ruthless that for a minor mistake you were forced to make a hundred hand written apology cards? So-"
Arthur smacked his brother's arm, "Quit trying to frighten him; mum's nothing like that!"
"I'm talking about dad."
"Oh. Oh, right."
Alfred gulped.
And Patrick parked.
Before them was a fairly large house with weathered yellow shutters and vines branching up the side of the house. The lawn was neatly trimmed with little pockets of flowers aligning the house and path towards the front door. Even the fences separating the the equally beautiful neighboring homes were low green shrubbery. It was all picturesque perfect and inside dwelled a dragon of a father as Patrick had painted him.
"He really is not all that bad," Arthur opened the door and got out in a fashion that Alfred could only call excitedly.
"To you perhaps, ya over achiever." Patrick walked around the car to catch up to his younger brother, the secretary already forgotten and left behind. It had been a years since either men had seen their parents despite Patricks"'Why don't you work as hard as Arthur? Why aren't you as creative as Arthur?'" The man lowered his voiced to sound gruffer and eradicated his Irish accent to sound more like their father. "'Why don't you find yourself a nice lass and settle down like Arthur-' No wait, that was Liam, haha. I can't believe they're still together and expecting their second. At least the old man trusted me enough to find you a proper secretary."
"Unorthodoxly," Arthur rolled his eyes then noticed said secretary wasn't with them. "Alfred?"
"I though you called him Jones?" Patrick chuckled at the the American trapped in his car. In his lapse of mind he had locked the vehicle with the child lock was in place. Those two back doors were rarely used and since he had purchased it a few years back no one had used it, so in his defense it was an honest mistake. If Patrick was honest with himself, the array of emotions he felt at homecoming played a hand at forgetting their American guest as well. From where he stood he unlocked the door and Arthur opened the it for the overgrown child. Relief was evident on the man's face as he stepped out, but it soon disappeared as he realized he now had to meet the remaining Kirklands. "Sorry about that Al, didn't mean to make ya miss an opportunity of a lifetime. As the newly hired secretary, you're gonna have to understand how this chaotic family works!" A prideful grin about his family spread across his face.
"It's best if you ignore him from here on out," Arthur led the way towards the front door. He waved the man away from the trunk when he didn't follow, "No, no, don't worry about the bags."
The redhead's grin only grew into a taunting one. "Come now, don't be shy. It's not as if your asking for Fiona's hand in marriage, or in this case I guess it'd be Art's since you don't know my twin."
"You!" Years growing up with the man didn't help the blond follow his own advice as he advanced forward ready to punch his brother.
The distance between the two allowed Patrick to run ahead as if they were children again and burst through the front door. "Mum! We're home! I've brought the runt back home plus his help!"
"Patrick?!" A woman's loving, motherly voice rang out from behind a wall. "Arthur?! I'm in the kitchen!"
Her two sons seemed alarmed by this and ran towards the voice. Both men couldn't possibly fit through the door simultaneously so the older of the two pushed the other out of the way. Eliciting a soft chuckle from Alfred as he marveled at how much the two went from respectable adults, in Arthur's case and somewhat Patrick's, to children fighting for their mother's attention. Little did he know they rushed towards her for another, more urgent, reason as well. Summoning enough courage, for a hero could not miss this, Arthur's secretary trod lightly behind.
A small woman with strawberry blonde curls let go of Patrick in favor of the other. She only reached Arthur's shoulders as she hugged her youngest son, but pulled a way with a smack to his arm and a stern face. "How could you forget your mother's birthday? Shame on you Arthur, even Liam called and you know how bad he is at remembering even his own. What do you have to say for yourself?"
He hung his head in mock surrender, "I have no excuse mother, but I see the bear found its spot in your collection." It was proudly displayed in the corner where all her other prized stuffed animals were collected over the years. As a young boy, he had loved taking them down to play with or selecting one to nap with. He had usually singled out a peculiar mint green bunny with wings attached because he claimed it called out to him, begging him to play with her. And he often did so by sneaking her out wherever he went. Little Arthur would rarely return her until his mother decided to let him keep it and to this day the man carried it with him wherever he'd go. All his other siblings had a similar affection for one of their mother's former toys, but none carried theirs around like Arthur.
"My, my, when did you get so cheeky? Those yanks must be morphing you into- Oh! Hello there. I'm sorry I didn't see you there. Ignore that last comment, they're not all... well yes," a light blush sprinkled across her face, highlighting her hazel eyes. "Don't stand in the doorway, dear, come a little closer so I can get a better look at you." Alfred did as he was told, forgetting his nerves as he stepped closer. It must have been her own mini rambling that put him at ease along with her very soothing demeanor. "You're very handsome...er..."
"Alfred F. Jones, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Olivia Kirkland, likewise." She took his out reached hand and shook it, smiling at up at him like a professional woman then mother as she then faced Arthur. "Good manners, nicely dressed, I approve of him, Arthur."
Caught off guard, the men did not understand her appraisal. Patrick was unaware of his mother's involvement in his father's orders to find Arthur a suitable secretary. Although it would only make sense, his silly brother having no life and thus forgetting the important date of their mother's birthday would drive her to somehow end his despondency. She might have gone up to their stoic father and demanded he bring her baby home to her or find someway to fix. And the only solution to that without having all of Arthur's work go to waste in New York is by having him get a proper secretary following him around. However, Olivia Kirkland knew nothing of Alfred F. Jones, recent graduate of Columbia University, so what was there to approve of?
"Approve of what, mum?" Arthur questioned at last.
Mrs. Kirkland patted Alfred's arm, "Well he's your boyfriend is he not?"
Collectively, they all managed to blink before Patrick erupted into hysteric laughter, Arthur's face rivaled that of his mother's prized rose garden in the back, and Alfred's heart froze before it pounded against his rib cage as it sped up. This was the answer to his gnawing question! She thought Arthur had brought him along to introduce her to him! Did that not mean Arthur was gay or at least bi? If his own mother assumed Alfred to be his boyfriend, then that could mean he was also his type! There was hope for him, but he couldn't become too hopeful in case it came crashing down. God knows how many times he's been disappointed... well it was one other time, but it still hurt him. He knew it was a big risk to confess to his best friend that he was crushing on him, but at least it didn't wreck their relationship. Once a month they would stay up an entire weekend to play video games at one of their apartments, but knowing he had no chance with him allowed Alfred to move on. And now he was one step closer at a shot at Arthur. If only his response was not as volatile.
Her youngest son raised his voice in embarrassment. "No! Alfred's my secretary! He was actually just hired yesterday! How could- What could-"
Again the woman blushed. "Oh, my bad. Well you didn't clarify, dear. And here I was getting excited after-well... And you called him by his first name just like-ah," Mrs. Kirkland paced around the kitchen nervously, weaving in and out of the men as she cleaned up a bit. She rarely ever became anxious like she was at the moment, but she knew this was a sore subject with Arthur. "I-I just thought there was a pattern or something with you, but I guess not. Did you just say he was hired yesterday? And you brought him along? Oh, not that I mind you being here Alfred, I love having guests! You will be staying with us right?"
With Alfred and Arthur still reeling from the shock, Patrick confessed. "No. See, I finally used 'the block of head between my shoulders,' as dad so kindly puts it, to good use and bought his plane ticket and a room in the near by inn even before hiring him. I figured we'd be a little tight on schedule so I thought it would be best to have everything ready so once he was hired we could more or less take off. When I- hold on, you didn't know I was sent all the way to the states to get Arthur a new secretary? One who will straiten his life and get him functioning again?"
"I function perfectly well thank you very much." Arthur quipped.
"He told me you were both, and I quote-" Patrick continued until another male's voice finished it for him."
"'Your mother and I are extremely worried for your brother's well being. Be of some use and go to New York to hire a decent secretary whether he wants one or not. Do remember that if Morgan's child is not born before your mother's birthday, she will have a caesarean the following weekend, possibly on Arthur's birthday. Hopefully we can all gather beforehand to support her,'" the older man finally revealed himself. In a suit and tie with his briefcase at hand, he appeared to have just arrived from work, thus his facial expression was not that of a pleased man. Or it could just be that he heard his son fail at a simple request. It really shouldn't have surprised him, but it did, every single time. "I asked that of you a month ago and you did so now?"
The table had turned and it was now Patrick's turn to be startled. To any observer, like Alfred at the moment, it would appear as if Mr. Kirkland was furious at his son, but the redhead had twenty-nine years of experience with his old man. An impish grin appeared on the older son's face as he said, "Uh, I love you."
And it did, Henry Jr. Kirkland's mustache covered lips twitched upward as he rolled his eyes. "Aside from Arthur, this is why I assign you the farthest location away from me. I'm thinking about reassigning you to Hong Kong or how about Antarctica? We can definitely afford to have you there as the first non-arctic wear company established down south."
Alfred was confused. This was not the picture of the intimidating man Patrick had painted moments ago on their way. He had just arrived home from, what he can only assume was, a long day at work to hear his son say he procrastinated on a duty, but instead of being frustrated with him, he was now joking with him. At least Alfred hoped he was fooling around with him because he could not really imagine Patrick away from civilization, let alone the female population. Mr. Kirkland must have gathered such description with his career ethic.
"So you decided on this young man as Arthur's assistant I see." Alfred was ripped from his thoughts as the head Kirkland glared up at him. This man was where the two sons had inherited those stunning emerald eyes and ridiculously thick eyebrows, but he really could not focus on that matter because under his gaze, Alfred felt three feet tall. "I approve."
"What?!" Arthur stiffened while Patrick and their mother snickered, confusing his father.
"You don't?" Mr. Kirkland looked back and forth between his son and the foreigner. "Why do you not accept him? With a simple look at his eyes, I can see dedication, knowledge, and enthusiasm. He'd be a great contribution to our family. At your current state, you need a man like- Pardon me for forgetting to ask, what is your name? I'm Henry Kirkland Jr."
"Alfred F. Jones, sir," despite another blush forming on his face, he gave a Arthur's father a firm handshake.
Henry nodded in appraisal, "Good, good, nice stern handshake. I like you so far, Alfred, keep it up. Arthur you need a guy like Alfred in you life. I bet he can help you straighten up after these past few months. Oi! Stop laughing Patrick!"
While he was laughing hysterically, Arthur was mortified with his hands up at his face shielding himself, and their mother enjoying the irony of it all. Mr. Kirkland had obviously not heard her previously made mistake and was only making it worse. Alfred too could not help at chuckle over the ironic play of words that none of the Kirklands knew about and was glad they hadn't. If they had known about it, then he wasn't so sure they would be laughing as they were now. A glance at Arthur told Alfred he was begging the world to just to swallow him up, but just stood willing to find another way to disappear somehow.
As if he felt a pair of eyes on him, he too risked a glance at Alfred only to reveal his glistening emerald eyes with tears about to burst. The contrast between the man's green eyes and red complexion dissolved Alfred's amusement and caused him to gawk at his beauty, at how vulnerable the man was. Even if he didn't believe in love at first sight, he believed in second and third, and at that moment, it took all of his self restrain not to walk across the kitchen to take that man into his arms and protect him from his family. Little would that action do any good, but it made Alfred vow to never see, nor make, Arthur truly cry.
Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on whomever's view it was, the oven began to billow out smoke, thus distracting the family form Arthur's and Alfred's non-existent (at the moment)love life. Used to such occurrences, the four immediately moved to action. Arthur grabbed the fire extinguisher, Mrs. Kirkland her mittens while Mr. Kirkland opened the oven, and Patrick opened the windows. Nothing was on fire so Arthur didn't need use of the extinguisher, but whatever unidentifiable meal was in there for dinner was no longer consumable.
After removing her mittens and once the smoke was out, Mrs. Kirkland sulked. Her first attempt at dinner without their housekeeper was a failure. She had even started dinner before lunch so as to not mess anything up. "Well boys, it looks like you're going to have to get me more ingredients and find us something to eat. Do you have any pounds on you or should I get my purse?"
~4~
"What was she even making?" Alfred pushed a trolly while Arthur examined a label.
The two attracted a lot of attention with Alfred's bellowing voice, American accent, and dress clothes, and Arthur looking equally attractive and still scarlet faced. The idea of the two of them as a couple was cemented into his mind and their current situation did not help that imagery. It possibly wouldn't have been there had his older brother not commented on it before driving away with the promise of returning in fifteen minutes. Patrick had opted out of grocery shopping with a claim he had certain matter to attend to and left the responsibility to the two of them.
"It's best not to ask," Arthur muttered and avoided looking at him. He could feel not only Alfred's eyes on him, but everyone else's who were in their views. "Er, go get the remaining canned vegetables from the other aisle while I select the remaining ones here," he wanted to get rid of him for at least a moment, long enough for his face to cool.
"Okay, Artie, but don't leave without me," Alfred voiced childish fear. Ever since that episode when he was four and his mother forgotten her son at Walmart, did he constantly remind others not to leave him stranded at a store. Even as he grew, knew how to drive, and get his way back home did he always run back to his mother at any supermarket after she requested him to fetch something.
"As if I could," the Englishman could already feel his face cool as his secretary walked away.
"What was that?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," he called back, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Okay, good! Let's see... carrots, peas, and corn! Carrots, peas, and corn. Carrots, peas, and corn. Carrots, peas, and corn... wait a minute were they regular peas, string peas, or green beans?" The second he had walked into the aisle containing the canned food the young man had doubted himself. His life was depending on this, if he couldn't get the cans necessary, how would Arthur even trust him with his actual job! He was about to turn around to find him again when he bumped into a lady and knocked her things out of her hand. "Oh! I'm so sorr- Wow you're huge!" Alfred had forgotten his mouth filter in the States.
The blond pregnant woman grimaced at his obnoxious voice, but giggled once Alfred slapped his hand over his mouth, easily forgiving him. "I know right, we just found out they're twins."
"Congratulations!" Spilled products already forgotten. "When are you due? You look about ready to pop... er, no offense."
She was about to respond when a man with fiery red hair stepped into view. Upon a quick examination of the scene, his temper escalated to that similar of his hair and began shouting at the secretary. "Oi! You bloody arse! Pick that up for my wife! Haven't you ever been pregnant? It's mighty difficult to bend over and pick up the mess you've made!"
"R-Right!" Alfred swooped down to gather her things up when another male with similar resemblance appeared only he was a light strawberry blond.
"Of course he hasn't, what kind of a question is that?" He defended the stranger with an eye roll at the other. "He can't become pregnant. Tell him you couldn't possibly become pregnant so he'll see that he sounds like an idiot."
"He very well could! All he'd have to do is put on an empathy belly to share his wife's pain for an hour or two!" The other retorted, still angry. "Wait, where did you leave my son?"
The strawberry blond was not able to respond because another female voice rang out, "Well lookie what we found here? Little Peter wondering all alone in the candy section." A little boy with blond hair, blue eyes, and large eyebrows like the other men's sat happily on a redhead's shoulders. "If I wasn't so quick to recognize him and Patrick wasn't fast enough to snatch him up, who know's who would have.
"Patrick?" Alfred questioned them man when he came into view. He was all too terribly confused and only received a grin from him.
Not a second later did Arthur role around the corner and asked, "Did you find the cans, Jones? Oh, bloody hell no." He froze in his tracks at the scene before him.
"Well it looks like we're all here," the relaxed strawberry blond man extended his arms as if presenting the group. "Except mum and dad of course."
Unedited, but you're not really surprized right? My bad... I sorta survived my finals, I'm still waiting for my official grades, but I'm back! For approximately three weeks! OTL I'm sorry, last semester kicked my butt and this upcoming one will whip it as well.
So I need your help.
I need you guys to help me create deadlines for myself because I obviously work better under pressure. So aside from these three weeks in which I will try to work on all my other stories along with this one to the best of my abilities, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? Should I update shorter chapters once a week once school starts again or every other week with slightly longer chapters, or once a month with even longer chapters? And what do you consider long? I'd like guidelines, but if no one responds (which I wouldn't blame you, I've been so fickle D': so sorry) I'll do what I want/can.
Haha, were you confused here at the end? Yeah I tried (lets be honest here, did I really have to try?) to make it so you'd feel what Alfred was feeling. I think I'm slipping with their characters, but thank you so much for reading and bearing my pathetic attempts!