Arthur P.O.V.
"That's so good Artie~ Oh- Ooooh, you're almost there..."
"I-I'm coming you git!" I panted.
"You're getting quicker Iggy! Oh, oh... You made it!"
I climbed out of the pool, out of breath.
"You can now do a full-length of the pool, I'm so proud of you~!" Alfred scooped me up into a hug and swung me around.
"H-hey, love! That's dangerous to do around a pool." I scolded, but was let down by the grin on my face.
"I think with a bit more practice you will be great!" He said still holding me to his chest, I blushed.
"S-shall we head home now?" I suggested, trying to slip from his strong arms, to no avail.
"Sure, let's go get you changed!" Alfred laughed, skipping towards the changing rooms. He was going to slip, bounding around like that... But he's like a child, he experiences.. He learns.
"I don't need you to change me!" I yelled, and then blushing at the other swimmers looking at me, mouthing "sorry's" I walked after him.
Before I could shut the cubicle door, Alfred squeezed in with me.
"Wh-What are you doing?!" I squeaked, not caring how un-manly it was.
"I told you babe, I'm going to get you changed!" He smiled, as he started tugging at my trunks. My face was probably beet-red, as I stuttered out curses, trying to hold them up.
"N-no!" I shouted.
I woke up, sweaty and unusually cold. Alfred lie next to me, slowly fluttering his eyes open.
"A-Artie," he slurred, "what's wrong babe?" Slowly sitting up, he wrapped his arms gently around my slim waist, kissing the nape of my neck. I shivered.
"I had a weird dream. Don't worry about me pet, just go back to sleep."
"You're really warm..." He pressed a hand to my forehead. "Damn, you're burning up!"
"I- I'm fine honestly, I just need some sleep..."
My vision darkened and I passed out.
I awoke again, to feel something wet on my forehead. Looking up wearily, I saw Alfred leaning over me; looking concerned.
"Al-" I coughed my throat felt dry.
"Sh, Iggy... You've got an- as you say "cold". Must be from when we stood in the rain." He said, voice laced with guilt.
Reaching up, I cupped his cheek with my hand and stroked it before chuckling quietly.
"Why didn't you get a cold too?" I croaked.
"Maybe it's my fate to look after you Iggy." He replied honestly.
I was thankful that my face was already flustered so he didn't notice I was blushing at his comment, good for him I felt too sick to argue.
I turned over to look away from him, before I felt the mattress dip slightly. I felt arms wrap around my waist and Alfred's hot breath on my neck, I shuddered.
"Al- Alfred you don't want to catch my cold do you?"
"I want to cuddle you Iggy, I wouldn't mind catching a "cold" if it meant I could sleep with you all-day." He mumbled, pressing his lips to my nape.
"But then who would look after me?" I asked. I didn't want Alfred to get sick because of me.
"Good point, I am the hero!" He leant back to kiss my head, before getting up from the bed and starting towards the door.
"W-where are you going?"
"I'm going to go get you some medicine okay?" He replied, and turned back before shutting the door.
"I love you Artie, okay?" I nodded, before letting my eyes droop and once again falling into a deep slumber.
Alfred P.O.V.
Walking into the store, I made my way over to where I remember the medicine to be. 'Why does it have to be all the way at the back of the store?' I asked myself. Before I got there, I looked over at the kids aisle... Out of interest! That's when I saw an adorable, bunny plush toy. Iggy would love that!
When I had got back home, I had ended up getting the bunny and medicine. I couldn't resist seeing Arthur's face when I gave it to him.
Before going upstairs, I thought about the day we went to the swimming pool... Artie looked so sexy in his little trunks. I could have sworn I saw some people eye-ing him up, maybe I won't take him to the public pool anymore. Looking in my kitchen cupboards, I found some chlorine tablets. I'd put these in my pool and teach him there. Maybe I was being too protective, but I didn't want anyone but me seeing Arthur like that.
Gently, I opened the door to the bedroom. Arthur was asleep again. I'd have to wake him up, I didn't want too though, he looked so peaceful and cute!
"Iggy." I whispered in his ear.
He shot up in surprise and we smacked heads.
"Oooow~! Artie, be more careful." I whined, rubbing my sore fore-head.
"G-git, you scared me half-to-death!" He gasped out, clutching his chest.
I laughed, and pulled him into a hug.
"I brought your medicine!" I grinned.
I started pulling out the bunny from behind me slowly.
"Oh, well thank-you lo- Oh my Goodness. That is adorable, give it to me!"
He reached out, trying to grab it. He said I was childish but he turns out like this when you hold out a rabbit toy?
"You get it when you take your medicine." I told him sternly, almost breaking at the pout he gave me.
"Okay..." He sighed, taking the medicine quickly.
I smiled and handed it to him, he cuddled it to his chest. Maybe I shouldn't have got him the thing, I think I've been replaced.
"Thank you Alfie!"
Alfie? He hasn't called me that since... But oh man, it felt so good to have him call me that. I would get him a zoo of the damn things if it meant him calling me that.
"No problem Artie, now go back to sleep!"
The older man obliged and curled up with the bunny tightly in his arms.
I chuckled, before planting a kiss on his nose. And left to go cook some food and sort out the pool.
That's when the phone rang.
"Hello, Alfred F. Jones speaking?"
"Hello Alfred, it's Francis."
WHOOAAA, CLIFFHANGER. I do bad cliffhangers, I know.
But what does Francis want to speak about, is it about Arthur? Who knows. Things are getting steamy too, did I trick you at the start? I hope I did, I found that funny. That might just be me.
But I'm slowly getting into another block, it was hard to get past one here. I wasn't sure what to do after the last chapter and someway or another this was the conclusion... I'd like to say a few thank-you's in this chapter, to some who have been supporting this story. So I'll list them here. (I'm not ranking people just saying thank-you in no particular order..)
1. Thank-you to DeathWillNotComeQuickly, for continuing to support me from the very start. You have been very supportive and useful in helping me with mistakes and giving advice and comments. You are lovely to talk to, too!
2. Thank-you to Fezzes64, for supporting me with detailed opinions that make me want to keep writing this story. It helps me to know that people want to read my story you inspire me to write on!
3. Thank-you to theSardonyx for understanding my work, you can see the hidden parts that I add, but are difficult to see (understanding on a deeper-level). You are useful with advice too.
4. I thank all of you, for reading my story up to this far! I'm surprised at the support I've been getting and honestly did not expect to get this much. I know it isn't as popular as some, but you who read this now are good enough for me. More than good enough, and so again I thank you all.
I use writing as my way of escapism, I don't like reality. But as soon as I write, I feel like I'm in my own world. I am the author, I can create my own story. Nobody can write it for me. And that's what I love.