Author's Note: We're back to America and his daughter again. I have to admit I was a little bit distracted today, but I got it done. I just need to add more to Alfred's storyline this season. There is the 2P invasion but that's all I have going for them. I will have to see where this season goes. Next week, I think we should check in on Japan and his misery. For now, enjoy this week's match.
Match Eleven: Bennett Juniper:
Alfred held Baby Florence to his chest. Allen sat across from him on the couch. He sneered over his cigarette.
"Why do you have that damned baby again?" he asked. Alfred held her closer to his chest.
"I will not let you hurt her," he said. His dark double rolled his eyes.
"I don't want to hurt her," he said. "I don't want to do anything to her." The American man gave him a confused look.
"Then… what do you want?" he asked. Allen rolled his eyes.
"What else?" he asked. "I want your life."
"What?" Alfred asked.
"You heard me," his double said. He rubbed his forehead.
"Do I have to explain everything to you?" he asked. "Again."
"What do you mean again?" Alfred asked. Small sparks of memory danced in his head. He tried to push it out.
"Dude, I'm going to need you to leave," he said.
"No, you're not," Allen said.
"Yes, I am," the other American man said. Baby Florence started to make noises of discomfort. Alfred tried to shush her.
"It's okay. It's okay. It's okay," he whispered. He bounced her up and down in his arms. Allen rolled his eyes. That little brat. She was ruining everything. That baby had to go. Alfred wasn't going to let that happen. Allen threw back his head and groaned.
"Oh for fuck sake! Put the baby down and talk to me!" he shouted.
"No," Alfred said. He practically huddled over his daughter. Baby Florence whimpered again. Allen sighed and rubbed his forehead. This was going to be a nightmare.
"Please leave," Alfred pleaded. Allen growled.
"No," he said. By now, the American man was getting angry.
"Get out of here or I will call the police," he whispered. His double all but laughed.
"Go ahead," he said. "Call them. See if they will believe you." Alfred frowned. This other America was right.
"Please get out," he pleaded. "Just leave." Allen gave him a cold smirk.
"No," he said. "You already know that don't you?" His double reached for his pocket. Alfred held his daughter to his chest as tightly as if it could be safe. Baby Florence was now crying. Suddenly, the door opened. Alfred lifted his head.
"Who is it?" he asked. His double drew back his hand.
"It's me!" Lydia said. Alfred breathed out in relief. Allen rolled his eyes. Oh yeah. There was her. She was going to be much harder than the baby.
"Coming!" Alfred shouted. He stood up and hurried to the front door. Allen clicked his tongue as he walked by. The American man took a breath and put on a brave face before he opened the door. Lydia stood outside with bags of groceries in her arms.
"Hey!" Alfred said. "It's so good to see you!" Lydia gave him a confused look.
"I was only gone for a couple of hours," she said.
"Oh," Alfred said. "Right, right. Yeah." He looked behind him in the house.
"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to help me?" she asked.
"Oh, sure," Alfred said. "Let me go put Baby Flo down." He turned and walked back to the living room. To his relief, Allen had vanished. The American man breathed out but wondered where he went. He couldn't let his guard down just yet. Right now, Lydia needed to get in the house.
"Oh yeah," he said to himself. He put Baby Florence down into her playpen and walked back to the front door.
"Sorry about that," he said. Lydia raised her eyebrow.
"Are you feeling okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, yeah!" Alfred was quick to say. "I'm fine." He took a bag and walked back into the house.
Alfred knew that he couldn't keep it a secret from Lydia for long. She was going to start asking questions.
"Hey Lydia," he said.
"Hm?" she asked as she fed the baby. The American man leaned back in his chair.
"I have an evil doppelganger that is trying to take over my life and kill Baby Flo," he said. There was no tact there. It just all came out. Lydia turned her head.
"Say what now?" she asked.
"I'm serious," Alfred said. "I've seen him many times." He noticed her looking at him like he was growing a second head.
"What are you talking about?" she asked. Alfred stared at her for a moment as he tried to think of a way to get her to understand.
"There is another me on the loose," he said again. "He's a really bad dude. He's really scary and wants to be me. He carries around a bat with nails. And he wants to kill Baby Flo."
"You aren't making any sense," she said. "What the hell are you talking about?" The American man sighed. This was going nowhere. How was he going to get her to believe that she and the baby were in danger? Alfred looked over at Baby Florence in her high chair. Her mouth and cheeks were covered in tomato sauce. Seeing her little face told him that he couldn't give up.
"We are all in danger," Alfred said. "If you see someone who looks like me with a spiked baseball, take the baby and run. Please." He sounded so sincere at that last part. Lydia sighed and dropped her shoulders.
"Fine," she said. Alfred breathed out as he bowed his head.
"Thank you," he said. Baby Florence was making cooing noises in her highchair. Alfred felt the fire to protect flare up again. He wasn't going to let anything happen to his baby girl. Alfred got up and picked up a napkin from the table. He gently cleaned off her face.
