The thirthy-fifth week
Hello and welcome back dear readers!
Thank you once again for your patience!
We are getting near the end of Charles' pregnancy and therefore also the end of this story. The sequel is already available too (The scientist and the silversmith), and I will add ficlets and chapters to that too. Plus, there are also more ideas for Alternate versions of this universe I am working on.
I hope you enjoy!
Charles is getting ready for his first day of teaching at school.
His husband and his boys are all trying to be helpful. They succeed in varying degrees.
"Just ignore Scott," Alex advises him.
Charles blinks at him. "Now why would I do that?"
Alex shrugs. "He asks too many questions."
Charles chuckles. "My dear boy, I have no intention on curbing a young man's curiosity. Quite the opposite. I'm sure we'll get along splendidly."
Armando packs Charles a big tin of cookies he was baking yesterday. "It's my nana's recipe. You can't go wrong with cookies. All the kids will love you."
Charles laughs. "Thank you, Armando, I appreciate this very much."
Sean assures him they will take good care of the farm while he is away.
Charles gives him a warm smile. "Thank you, darling, I'm glad to hear that."
He checks his bag one more time. He has his books, his notes, pen and paper, chalk for the blackboard, the tin of cookies, a flask of hot tea... everything is order.
He says goodbye to his boys and his mate, and steps out of the door.
"Oh, wait a minute," Erik calls out as an afterthought and returns once more into the house. Charles' sigh is long-suffering as he follows him back inside. "What now?"
Erik quickly runs up the stairs, and comes back down with a grin, and his hand behind his back.
The boys, who have been in the process of tidying up from breakfast, are peeking around the corner of the dining room curiously.
"I thought you could use some help in keeping the village brats in line," Erik smirks, and holds the wretched carpet beater out to him.
"You've actually gone bonkers now," Charles states flatly. "Put that away for god's sake, I'm not touching it. None of my tutors ever thought it necessary to raise a hand against me and I certainly am not planning to start that nonsense here."
Erik's grin grows even wider as he leans the item against the wall. "Suit yourself, sweetheart. But don't come running to me if the kids are giving you a hard time."
Charles snorts. "As if. Anything else? Or can I finally be on my way now, oh my Alpha?"
Erik tugs him over into another hug, managing to kiss and swat him at the same time with the ease of long practice. "Don't get snarky, it might rub off on the children and then you'll have displeased parents to deal with."
Charles smiles against his mouth and gives Erik a quick kiss back before he frees himself from his husband's arms.
"See you at lunch!" He calls back over his shoulder as he quickly makes his way out of the door, determined to not let Erik distract him again. He has to set a good example, after all, and being late on the first day of school would be quite the opposite.
Charles makes it to the school in good time. He is an hour early, actually, so that the only one there is Mr. Carnegie, who greets him with a smile, and a firm handshake.
"Good morning Charles, how wonderful to see you. How are you?"
"Thank you, vicar, and a good morning to you too. I am quite well, and you?"
"I'm fine, thank you. But I have told you before to call me Alphonse, my boy," the vicar admonishes Charles mock sternly.
Charles smiles ruefully. "I'm still not used to being so familiar with so many people. In Westchester it seems like there were only titles or last names."
Alphonse laughs, and claps him on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll manage. If it's any consolation, in front of the children it actually helps if we address each other formally."
They set on planning their first day in detail. They have had quite a few meetings during the summer, going over their plans for the lessons. Charles is looking forward to meeting the children in school officially. Over the last weeks he has gotten to know some of them better already.
Finally they have set up everything for the lessons, and Charles rubs his hands a little gleefully. Time for the fun to begin.
"I'm just saying, it'd be nice to bring him some mid morning snacks! Think of the babies, he's eating for three!"
Armando smiles indulgently at Sean's rambling. "Hand me that pitchfork, will you?"
Sean helpfully hands over the fork, and leans back on his broom, watching Mando forking hay into the rack for Max and Elise. "It would be no trouble at all to make a little detour."
Mando's eyes are dancing. "Why don't you ask Erik then?"
Sean sighs, and scuffs the floor with his boot. "Y'know why. He said we shouldn't bother Charles."
"Mhm."
Armando gives him a quick sideways hug as he passes him on his way to put the pitchfork back in its holder on the wall.
Sean sighs again, and starts sweeping the floor half heartedly.
Mando washes his hands at the tap, fills two buckets with water, and carries them over to the trough for the horses.
Then he puts those away, and gently takes the broom from Sean's hands.
Sean looks at him in surprise, and Mando grins conspirationally. "Wanna get into a little trouble?"
It's recess and Charles is taking the time to breathe. It was quite fun to teach, but also a little exhausting. They started the day with all children in one class, and then separated the ones just starting school (and those who have forgotten everything over the summer break) from the ones more advanced in their studies. Charles took the older kids into the next room, and spent the first lessons of the day on the natural sciences. It was a huge success, especially as he unveiled the terrarium full of frogs and lizards that Remy and Kurt collected for him over the last weeks.
Now all kids are happily running around the schoolyard playing tag, or sitting in groups and eating the sandwiches they brought.
Alphonse gives Charles a warm smile. "Thank you so much. I hope it wasn't too strenuous?"
Charles smiles too, and leans back on the bench in front of the schoolhouse. "It's quite fine, thank you. The kids are eager to learn, it's a real joy."
Alphonse nods. "You are great with them. Let me know if you need anything, all right?"
"Will do."
Alphonse leaves him to rest his feet and enjoy a nice cup of tea, and wanders around the yard to keep an eye on the kids.
Charles closes his eyes for a minute, basking in the warm September sun.
"Psst! Prof!"
Charles is a little startled at the whisper. He looks around and discovers Sean peeking around the corner of the schoolhouse.
He raises his eyebrows, but can't help smiling. Sean makes sure the vicar is not in sight at the moment, and quickly sneaks over to Charles. Armando is following behind him with a box.
"We thought you could use some snacks, Prof", Sean explains, and Mando hands the box to Charles.
Charles pats the bench next to him. "How nice of you. Do sit down for a minute. Everything all right at home? Oh, this is great." They brought him some Cornish pasties, still warm from the oven.
Sean fidgets a little, but Armando shrugs, and sits down. In for a penny, in for a pound. "All is well. Erik is cooking quite a feast, I think he wants to distract himself."
Charles smirks at them. "Well I'm not complaining. Sean, darling, are you quite all right?"
Sean blushes. "We … might have snuck away," he admits under his breath.
"I see. That's something you need to take up with Erik, should he even notice you're gone. I'm certainly not going to tell on nice young men who bring me tasty treats."
Sean smiles shyly at that, and finally sits down on Charles' other side.
"Mando!" Lucia and Sofía, Armando's sisters, come running at the sight of their big brother, and give him a hug. They get even more hugs and kisses back.
Charles hugs Sean to himself, and gives him a kiss to the cheek. "It'll be all right. Want me to write a little note for our dear Alpha?"
"Would you?"
"Of course, darling. I just need to fetch my pen and paper real quick." Charles tries to stand up, but Sean prevents him.
"Oh no! You need your rest, I'll get it."
Lucia and Sofía are proudly telling Mando about their progress in school, and are delighted that he is learning to read and write now as well. They only moved to this village when Mando was twelve, and already helping out with work on the fields for much of the day. The situation before was even less ideal, and there simply was no time for Mando to spend on learning book knowledge.
Sean is back in under a minute, and Charles composes a note to his husband.
"My love,
please do not be cross with our boys, they just wanted to make sure I am faring well.
Which I am. No need for further check ups.
I look forward to seeing you at lunch. If the pasties are anything to go by it is going to be marvellous.
Always yours,
Charles"
He folds up the note, scribbles S.W.A.L.K. on the outside, and indeed gives the paper a kiss.
"There, that should mellow him up some," he says as he hands the letter to a blushing Sean.
The school bell is ringing the end of recess, and all children are running back inside. Armando gives his sisters a last hug each, and tells them to have fun. Both farmhands receive hugs by Charles too.
"Good luck at home! I'll see you soon."
With a wave goodbye he follows the children back into the schoolhouse.
Sean looks at Mando with a rueful smile. "Time to face the music."
The children are settling down at their desks, chatting excitedly. Charles walks up to the teacher's desk at the front, and leans against it. He gives them a few minutes to settle down, and then claps his hands. The children quieten down.
"All right! Now we have some time to practice our reading. I brought a new book for this which I think you'll like." He takes the book from his bag, and holds it up for all to see. It's blue, and has some golden stars on it.
"Who wants to start reading?"
A girl called Jean Grey raises her hand cautiously, and Charles smiles at her. "Thank you, Jean. Just start by reading the first page for us. The rest of you listen carefully, and if you don't understand something, raise your hand."
Jean starts reading in a clear voice.
"THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
BY MARK TWAIN
To My Wife
This Book is
Affectionately Dedicated.
Most of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were schoolmates of mine. Huck Finn is drawn from life; Tom Sawyer also, but not from an individual—he is a combination of the characteristics of three boys whom I knew, and therefore belongs to the composite order of architecture.
The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children and slaves in the West at the period of this story—that is to say, thirty or forty years ago.
Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in.
THE AUTHOR.
HARTFORD, 1876."
They clear up words like dedicated, composite order of architecture, shunned, enterprises and all other questions that arise. The children are eager to get to the beginning of the story, and Charles encourages Jean to hand the book to the boy sitting next to her, which is Scott Summers.
'"TOM!"
No answer.
"TOM!"
No answer.
"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You TOM!"
No answer.'
They spend the time until lunch reading in turns, Charles helping with the pronunciation and explanations of the words.
While the children are reading, Charles is making some notes how each of them is doing, so he knows who needs additional help or practice.
When the school bell is ringing to announce the end of the lessons for today, there is some protest. "Can't we read more?"
Charles smiles. "We will read more tomorrow. For now it is lunch time! Have a nice afternoon, dear children."
The children all pack up their things, and file by Charles, shaking his hand. When they are all gone, Alphonse comes over from the other room with a twinkle in his eye.
"All went well, I gather?"
They stay and chat for a few more minutes while Charles is packing up. Both agree that the first day went really splendid.
"I'm sorry, but I really have to get home now, Alphonse, otherwise Erik will come looking for me."
The vicar laughs. "My best regards to your family, Charles. I should get going too."
They shake hands, and the vicar locks the doors after them.
Charles is happily humming on his way back home.
"I'm home!" Charles calls cheerfully as he steps through the door. Erik calls back "I'll be right with you!" from the kitchen.
Charles goes to investigate, and is rewarded by the sight of his husband in an apron with a speck of flour on his cheek. He looks good enough to eat, and Charles hugs him from behind.
"Mhmmm."
He feels Erik chuckle, and then his husband wipes his hands, and turns around carefully for a proper hug.
"Long day?" Erik asks quietly.
Charles shakes his head against him. "It was fun. But I'm still glad to be home."
"I can imagine. C'mon, lets get you settled."
The Alpha gently walks them over to the table without dislodging his mate, and sits down with Charles in his lap. They're both content to cuddle for the time being, reconnecting after half a day spent apart.
Charles looks up when he hears footsteps, and sees Sean standing in the door with a bottle of polish and a soft cloth in his hands, smiling nervously.
"We finishes polishing the bookshelves, Erik."
"Very good. Then you can set the table in the dining room, lunch is just about done."
Sean vanishes with alacrity, and Charles snorts. "You made them polish all the bookshelves?"
Erik grins one of his Shark grins. "They are obviously under-worked, if they go off gallivanting in the middle of the day."
Charles has to chuckle at that.
"Thanks for your note, by the way, I appreciated it. Though I can think of more appropriate recipients for your loving kisses than pieces of paper."
"Can you?" Charles smiles warmly, and leans forward to bestow some of his loving kisses on his husband.
While they are occupied so pleasantly, the boys are setting the table, and carrying the finished dishes over to the dining room. Only when they are done Erik pulls away from his mate, and helps him stand up.
'Quite a feast' is exactly the right term, Charles ponders as he looks at the table in front of him.
Apart from the Cornish pasties, Erik made a roast with gravy, Yorkshire puddings, an assortment of greens, and mashed potatoes.
"If this is the way you cook when I'm away, maybe I should go leave more often?" Charles teases his husband.
Erik narrows his eyes. "Don't get any ideas. This is a special occasion, to celebrate your successful start of the school year."
Charles squeezes his hand reassuringly. "Thank you."
Erik says the blessing, and then they all dig in. Charles is happy to tell them all about his day at school, and asks questions in turn how their day went so far. Erik is visibly relaxing more and more, now that he has his mate back with him, and that helps Mando and Sean to relax as well.
All in all, it's a great start of the school year, Charles thinks.
Aaaannddd that's it for now, my darlings!
I think there will be one or two more chapters in this fic. Any further adventures you will see in "The Scientist and the Silversmith". The book the class is reading from, is of course Tom Sawyer! You can find it online for free.
Thank you so much for your continued support, I hope you all are well, and I wish you a nice December / Holiday season if you celebrate.
Love, Auri