A/N: Sorry for the wait! I had to do a bit of research, and I'm trying to prep for the next generation of fanfics I'll be coming out with.

[Chapter 11- Third]

After eating and properly dressing for the cold weather, Alfred hailed an Uber. They were driven to the nearest police station, and Alfred paid the young man who had taken them.

Stepping into the police station was an unexpected experience for Alfred, as it seemed almost like any similar station in the U.S. There was a police officer sitting at the reception desk, taking calls and occasionally welcoming people further back into the offices. Behind the reception desk, more police officers were doing paperwork, talking seriously or amicably, or moving from one end of the station to the other. There were more structured offices at the back of the building.

"How can I help you, sir?" The officer at the reception desk greeted them with a somewhat grim smile. He noticed Arthur standing shyly at Alfred's side and addressed him as well, "And you, poppet?"

"Um," Alfred fumbled, unsure how to smart. Maybe he shouldn't have taken Artie back to the hotel with him? "Well, I found him wandering the streets last night... by himself..."

"Oh," the officer said, sounding pitying. "That's rough, poppet! C'mon then! Let's go find someone who can help you back to yer parents." He stood up and led Arthur to one of the cubicles in the back. Alfred waited patiently, wondering what to do next. When the officer returned, he gave the American a sad smile. "We'll take care of 'em, don't you worry."

"What if you can't find his parents? What happens then?" Alfred fretted, remembering what had happened when he asked Arthur about his parents last night.

"Well..." The officer hummed. "If that 'appens, he'll be in police custody for the next 72 hours. We don't find anyone else and no one comes to claim him in that time? He's... erm, going to the local orphanage..." The man's face fell empathetically.

"R-Really?" Alfred chewed on his lower lip in thought. "That's awful..."

"It'll be alright! Cute little chap like that? He'll be swooped up before you know it!" The man tried to cheer him up.

Alfred leaned to the side, catching sight of the kid's blonde hair barely peeking over the back of a chair. He thought about his life, and about the past day or so, and about Arthur. He thought about his house back in the U.S, and his mom, and his brother.

He probably thought harder than he should.

He turned to leave, a small ache in his chest. His job was done, right? He'd done his part, and Arthur would go to a home where he was loved and cared for and... And Alfred could go, because Arthur didn't need him now.

He reached for the door, but a tiny hand on the hem of his shirt stopped him. He looked down and found Arthur's big green eyes staring up at him. The boy flushed a light pink and quickly looked away.

"You left your coat..." The kid held out the jacket he'd worn to the station.

"Uh, thanks," Al chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

"You shouldn't just leave things around, y'know," Artie declared, glaring at the floor. "Don't forget things you're gonna need."

"You're sure a lot more talkative, now," Alfred teased. He knelt down and gave Arthur a warm, all American smile. "Don't worry! I'll make sure I got all my stuff."

"Okay..." Arthur spun around and crossed his arms over his tiny chest. "Good!" He stomped over to the reception desk and stopped. Slowly, he turned around and watched Alfred with those big eyes again.

Hesitantly, Alfred rose to his feet and started for the door again. The ache in his chest spread.

Something sparked.

The American jogged back to the reception desk, gave Artie a side-hug, and looked the officer in the eye.

"I need to make a call."

A/N: *gasp* THINGS ARE HAPPENING!

QUESTION OF THE UPDATE: Do you have any fun or interesting stories with a police officer? When I was younger, my mom's license plate got stolen. Of course, we got pulled over, and she tried to explain, but the cop turned out to be one of her friends from high school! It was actually kind of funny.