Four Hours
Chapter 25
The next few months sailed by steadily, and soon enough it was almost Arthur's due date. The two attended the odd World Meeting every now and then, but as Arthur's stomach began to swell from the baby, Alfred thought it may be a good idea for Arthur to cut his hair slightly, as though to make him look more feminine so they wouldn't get as many funny looks. At first, Arthur was completely against the idea. It'd taken him bloody ages to grow his hair that long, thank you very much! He didn't want to be bullied by France again...
So on the fourth of September, Arthur had made the plunge.
...He had his hair cut.
Now, one wouldn't usually find being in a hairdressers completely distressing, but boy, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland did. It took all of Alfred's might not to shout at the poor, heavily pregnant Brit, but a small voice deep inside him told him to keep calm, for it would all be over soon.
The hairdresser went for a simple pixie hair cut. The front was swept slightly over his forehead in an innocent sort of way, giving a Tinkerbell look. The back was short, like a boy's haircut would be, only the top was longer and had a layer-like look, looking soft and it complemented Arthur's face well.
Due to Arthur lacking a bulbous nose and extremely sharp cheekbones, the look gave him a glow he'd never experienced before; it made him feel young and sophisticated, and the lovely lady who did his new hairstyle decided to thread his eyebrows slightly, too! With his new feathery look and nicely-shaped eyebrows, Arthur looked as delicate as a flower.
...Until he opened his mouth, that is.
"Good God!" He cried, looking between Alfred, the hairdresser and the handheld mirror he had as if he were watching a tennis match, "I look like a bloody fairy!"
Both Alfred and, as Arthur liked to call her, 'whatever her name was' suppressed giggles and the dashing American took the opportunity to praise Arthur, "You look gorgeous, doll!" he exclaimed, grinning toothily all the while, "I can't wait to show you off!"
"Hm." Arthur looked unimpressed.
"Honest, I like the new look!" He added, paying the woman. "It makes ya look so vibrant, ya'no? Brings out your features."
"Whatever."
xoxoxo
Walking throughout London heavily pregnant looking like a girl clad in a baggy jumper and not-so-skinny jeans wasn't Arthur's idea of fun, especially when the trip involved getting a Starbucks (Alfred's idea) and shopping for dresses (also Alfred's idea.) They finally ended up in the maternity wear section, where Arthur found half of the clothes extremely unflattering and unbecoming. But alas, Alfred was there and Arthur was forced to choose something he felt comfortable and nice in, which he did.
The pair left the branded shop with four bags: three quarters of them filled with tiny yet beautifully embroidered baby clothes and the other with a single summer dress (which Alfred said made Arthur look divine), two rather nice baggy jumpers and a pair of jeans for Alfred (which Arthur said made Alfred in turn look divine.)
"Man, I'm so excited!" Alfred laughed, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. Somehow, the American had managed to hold all four bags in one hand and balance a Starbucks within his grasp, as well as hold Arthur's hand as they walked back home. "I mean, I'm gonna be a dad! It's not the same with the States, they aren't, like, children... They're kinda like my babies an' all, but, ah, man! I'm so happy to be havin' a mini-me with ya, Artie! You have no idea." Arthur just nodded; bloody hell; he couldn't wait to get home and have a sit down.
xoxoxo
"Thunder thighs are on the move!" Arthur announced through munches of his second bowl of butter flavoured popcorn. Alfred whipped his head around, nearly snapping it in the process, and pouted, "Not cool, bro! Chaffing really sucks balls!"
"Like you, then." Arthur smirked as he ate another handful. He chuckled loudly once he'd digested it all and grinned at the American. "Come 'ere, you. I love you. Thighs and all, okay?" Begrudgingly, Alfred traipsed over to the elder and flopped down next to him.
"Okay." he said, rather deflated. "I love you too." A sigh. "And this big round bump of ours. Don't worry, li'l' guy; I didn't forget about you!" Arthur smiled fondly as Alfred rubbed small yet pleasant circles on his belly, as if to soothe the growing foetus inside. "I have a feeling it's gonna be a boy. I bet he'll be a hero someday, just like me!" Alfred whispered, mostly to himself.
"Who said it'll be a boy?" Arthur asked.
Alfred ignored him. "And he'll be spoiled! I'll spoil him! I'll give him everythin' his li'l' heart desires because he'll be too adorable and he'll be the spitting image of Artie. Yeah, a mini-me. But even though he'll grow up in America with us, he'll still have a cute British accent like Artie; one that girls find sexy. Like I find sexy."
"Alfred, that last bit made you sound like a real paedophile."
"But even so, he might be gay. I don't care. I don't care if he's gay, straight, bisexual, a republican or a democrat. Okay, maybe not a republican that chooses to shut down the White House, but I guess I don't care, 'cause he'll be our little boy. He'll always be our little boy.
"And we'll support him through everything! Always. 'Cause he's our little boy." Alfred smiled to himself and gave the bump a tender kiss. "Gosh, I can't wait to meet you."
"That got real gay real quick..."
First things first - Yes, Arthur's okay! Phew! Alfred just took him home and got him well fed and etc., he's perfectly fine now though! And AAH! He's close to his due date! He will probably give birth like, next chapter? Sorry there was such a big time skip!
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~ BritishTraveller.