Vegas 36
Alfred winced as he walked down the stairs. Between the firm "punishment" for coming home he just got from Matthew, and these stupid heels, he was in a lot pain below the waist. He frowned slightly as he reached the bottom. By now the television should be blaring cartoons. Arizona and New Mexico would be shooting at each other with their cap guns. Alaska would be trying to watch TV, holding his stuffed moose close. Hawaii and Nunavut would be playing tea party. None of that was going on. It was quiet. Too quiet. Too…clichéd.
He groaned and turned, trying to run back upstairs to change before they realized he was awake, but the heel of a shoe caught on the edge of the stair, throwing off his balance. He slid down the rest of the stairs, his skirt hiking up as he hit each step. He winced and opened his eyes just in time to be staring at the camera as it flashed, accompanied by a series of giggles. He should have known it would happen sooner or later. Bachelor…ette…party.
"Dad! Please! There are some things I did inot/i want to see in my life and this was one of them! Pull your skirt down!"
"Oh God. Doesn't that chafe you at all? All that lace…"
"Wait til I show this to the guys. They'd never believe it in a million years without this picture!"
"You didn't hurt your ankle again, did you? What are you even doing wearing that?"
Oh his daughters. He just iloved/i them so.
A few hours later found Alfred changed into fatigues, boots, and a blue wristband. He peeked around the boulder that he had dodged behind, looking for any signs of a red wristband that would indicate his enemy. Finding none, he dove out from behind the rock, holding his gun in front of him as he crawled into the nearby bushes. He poked his gun through the bushes, pushing the brush aside, peering at the red flag billowing in the distance with a lone gunner standing guard. He glanced over his shoulder to where his ally was waiting behind a nearby tree and nodded slightly. He dropped to the ground again, crawling through the high grass to another boulder and a better shot. His eyes widened as a shot flew over his head, grazing his ahoge. He glanced to the side, and quickly rolled out of the way as the gunner guarding the flag fired another shot.
"Ginny! I'll cover you! Get the flag!" Virginia nodded, running out of where she was hiding as Alfred lifted off the ground, moving in the other direction. The lone gunner moved back and forth, trying to shoot at both of them. Alfred aimed his shot quickly, firing. The gunner threw down her rifle, pouting as the blue paint splattered squarely on her chest.
"Dad! That's not fair! You've been in wars!" Alfred shrugged as Virginia ran past her, grabbing the flag from its perch. He pushed up his goggles and walked over, setting a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry North Dakota. But you were the ones who decided on paint ball for my…bachelorette party. Awesome choice, by the way. This has been an awesome day. Well…aside from this morning." They both shuddered at the memory. Virginia hurried over.
"Y'all better get a move on before they realize their flag is missing." Alfred nodded and leaned over, kissing his daughter's forehead.
"You did good honey. You took out most of my team up here by yourself." He ruffled her hair and turned, pulling his goggles down again as he followed after Virginia. They had a paintball war to win.