It's great to have my ride back! Thank goodness the wheels didn't get too flat until I got to Alaska! Everyone is super pumped to get on the road, or is that just me...? Anyway, I'm glad to see all my kids! I haven't had them all together in quite a while! It's going to be troublesome introducing them to the world. I've avoided it for so long… But it's not like I'm taking them to a world meeting or anything, I'm introducing them to my family. Some of my kids I can hardly wait to show off! Others, well… I'd rather them keep hidden forever. While Mattie saw Prussia off and everyone got their stuff loaded, I made some calls.
"Hello?" A small voice answered, causing me to grin at the twinkly tone.
"Hey Olivia, it's Daddy. Can you get Lucy, Cali, Alicia, Robert, and Sarah, and meet me at Whitney's house? I'll explain a little later." I request, and I can almost hear her nodding.
"Okay, Daddy."
"Thanks, baby. I'll see you soon." I hung up and walked to the bus. We all got in and Mattie stole the keys right out of my hands! The nerve! He announced that he'll drive until we get to the continental US. That's no fun, but my shoulder does still hurt… So I guess it's okay. I'm currently upstairs in the lounge sitting on the couch.
"Now that we have some time to kill, how about you tell us about your kids, lad?" Arthur asks curiously.
"Ok what do you wanna know?" I ask, turning to him.
"You have fifty of them, correct?"
"Wrong."
"Wrong?" Arthur scoffs, appalled. "But you have fifty states!"
"True, but I have fifty-three kids. Fifty-four if you include Frankie."
"Oh… Tell us about Washington. That is the first state we'll drive through, isn't it?"
"That's right!" I went over to the window, shutting the blinds, and pulled down a map of the continental US, like the ones that are in schools. Then, I pulled out an extendable pointer. "To save time on this expedition I called some of my kids and they're going to meet us at Whitney's house. Whitney is Washington's human name. Whitney Lake Jones. She's physically 16. The house we are driving to is twenty minutes outside of Seattle. My girl has a ranch there and a few pretty horses. She is very well mannered and loves coffee. Her state has a lot of wacky laws but so do most of my states. There are over forty thousand miles of rivers and streams and more than eight thousand lakes in Washington. She loves boating and water sports. She is five-foot-six and a very sociable person. The most noticeable thing about her is her love of coffee though. She can distinguish good and bad coffee like you with wine Francis." I explain easily. I know her like the back of my hand.
"Oui, but can any of your kin tell a certain wine from another with just one sip?" Francis interjects, a small smirk forming on his lips.
"Clara and Alice both, as well as Cali, Leila, and Victoria, to name a few. I can't myself, but as my girls say, 'I've never been one for high society. I'd rather be building something'."
"Wow, yet somehow I'm not surprised." Arthur mumbles.
"Yeah. By the way, Clara and Alice are New York." I add.
"Which one?" Arthur questions.
"Both, they're identical twins. Cali is California, Leila is Hawaii, and Victoria is Vermont." I pointed again to the map. "Earlier, while you were busy packing, I called a few of my kids to meet us at Whitney's house. I also got permission to use Air Force 1, so once we get to Massachusetts we can drive down to Florida and fly first class to England. I'm going to have my kids gather either at the house of someone we're passing through or meet us in Florida." Both France and England wore looks of astonishment.
"You… you actually put a good amount of thought into this, didn't you?" Arthur asks.
"Yeah, I guess I did. Rave has done too much for me to mess around anymore."
"Cher, what did he do to you?" Francis put his hand on my shoulder and I flinched. I tried my best to hide it, like I usually do.
"To me? The hero!" I scoff. "As if!" I went over to the intercom, speaking into it slowly. "So Mattie, now that you know the plan, mind telling me how long until we're in the US?"
"How did you...?"
"The light's been on since I started talking. Honestly, how dense do you people think I am?" I question disappointingly.
"Ah… Oh, well four hours 'til we get to your daughter's house, if I'm reading this map and address correctly."
"Just get us in state and I'll drive." I explain.
"Arthur? Francis?"
"Let him drive." Arthur responds.
"Oui, it's ok." Francis agrees.
"Fine, I'll stop at the border rest stop and we can change drivers." Mattie relents.
"Good." I answer, clicking the PA off.
I worry about that boy, I really do. I've seen sides of him I never thought he had. He cares for his family… He truly just wants to protect them. Normally, the only time you see the boy being serous is in the midst of a battle. It reminds me of my old empire days, how protective I was of my colonies. He reminds me of the two of us once upon a time, long ago. But this Rave person, that has me worried. In all my years watching him grow up three things have always alluded me. First, the witch trials he had, what was the cause of them? Second, how could he end two world wars without serious injury, but on occasion show up to meetings obviously trying to hide a wound? And third, what happened to the lad when I left him behind?
~*~
Arthur's Log
August 14, 1623
Today I returned to America and was met with several surprising things. Alfred has grown so much! He now appears the age of 16 or so. It's barely noticed, but his smiles seem forced, and he flinches at contact. I truly worry for the lad. His heart will be the end of him. I hope he goes back to normal soon. I return home next week.
~*~
"How did you...?" I ask, halting momentarily before continuing to press on the gas, cruising down the road.
"The light's been on since I started talking. Honestly, how dense do you people think I am?" Alfred asks disappointingly.
"Ah… Oh, well four hours 'til we get to your daughter's house if I'm reading this map and address correctly."
"Just get us in state and I'll drive." He orders.
"Arthur? Francis?" I plead, not agreeing with him driving. He's still hurt.
"Let him drive." Arthur insists.
"Oui, it's ok." Francis adds.
"Fine, I'll stop at the border rest stop and we can change drivers." I reluctantly agree, pulling into a truck bay at the rest stop and moving upstairs.
"Okay guys I'll drive now you dudes' just chillax up here." Alfred went downstairs, and I waited until I heard the engine start again. Once we got on the highway I unplugged the intercom system.
"Time to compare notes on Alfred, eh?" I ask quietly, trying to project my voice.
"Is it just me or does he flinch whenever someone tries to touch him?" Arthur asks.
"Non, I noticed it too. His smiles seem forced as well, no?" Francis responds, sipping on a glass of wine.
"I don't think we realize what exactly we've gotten ourselves into, chaps." Arthur sighs.
"And Alfred is only telling us the bare minimum about everything." I agree.
"This is problematic, but I have an idea! His children!" Francis inputs, sitting upright.
"What? I don't get it." Arthur says, confused. I nod in agreement.
"You see, mon amour, he is trusting us with his children! They obviously know the whole story, oui? So all we need to do is ask a few of them and compare the stories!" Francis explains happily.
"I get it! Each of his kids will help fill in another piece of this puzzle!" I whisper in astonishment, staring at Francis.
"That is correct mon petit ange."
