Chapter 19: Alleeeeeeeeeeeeeeen
Arthur had never felt more satisfied in his life than when he saw how Emilise's eyes widened and jaw drop. "Allen! Baby what are you doing here?" She twittered in panic, fear evident in her voice. Francis stood up, glaring daggers at Allen.
"What is your full name?"
"Allen Liberty Jones."
"Relationship to either Ms. Williams or Mr. Bonnefoy?"
"I'm the one she cheated on her husband with. Arthur asked me to come up here and speak for him. And to Francis, i'm really, really sorry." He angled his head toward Francis, genuine apology in his eyes. "I didn't know she was married. Whenever she was with me, in the entire four years she either referred to you as a friend or an ex. She never wore the ring." Francis looked shocked, sitting back down. Arthur smiled faintly, glad that Allen had kept his word.
~A couple days earlier~
Arthur double checked the address, this was it. Getting the address of Emilise's boyfriend was no easy task but Arthur was determined to track him down, and so here he was. The house was fairly grand, with a pickup truck and a sleek sports car parked in the driveway, but no trace of Emilise's yellow car. Muffled yelling grew louder as he approached the front door, the only words clear being the occasional swear or name. The Brit raised his fist to knock but before he could the door swung open. "OI HOSER I'M GOING TO THE SHOOTING RANGE IF YOU FUCK UP ANY OF MY SHIT I'LL USE MY HOCKEY STICK TO BEAT YOUR FACE IN!" A man yelled over his shoulder, then noticed Arthur standing there. "Hello. Do you need anything?" He asked in a bored tone, stubbing out his cigarette. He had emotionless violet eyes and choppy blonde hair tied in a low ponytail, stubble on his jaw and a ragged flannel, opened a couple buttons to reveal a bandaged chest.
"Are you Allen L. Jones?" Arthur asked, looking at the name written on a slip of paper that he held in his hand.
The blonde man scowled, rolling his eyes. "What did my imbécile of a brother do now?" he asked with a sigh. "ALLEN!"
"WHAT?!"
"THE COPS ARE HERE AGAIN WHO THE FUCK DID YOU FIGHT THIS TIME?!"
"I'm not a cop." Arthur said, a bit puzzled. "I'm here because I need to ask Mr. Jones a couple questions, Mr…"
"NEVERMIND HE'S NOT A COP and it's Williams. Matt Williams. Allen is my brother." Matt introduced himself, shaking Arthur's hand. "C'mon in he's somewhere down the hall in the living room." He opened the door and stepped out of the way, walking down the driveway to enter the pickup truck and drive away. Arthur made his way into the house, entering a large living room where a man was draped over the couch, tapping a baseball bat against the table, watching hockey. A team scored and he yelled in frustration, smashing the bat against the coffee table, causing a rather large crack.
"Fuck Matt's gonna kill me." he groaned, then saw Arthur. "Oh hey. You're the cop who's not a cop right?" He asked, smirking wide enough for Arthur to see that he had a canine missing. He got up and made his way over to where the Englishman was standing, and Arthur noticed that the man was taller than him.
"Yes and you must be Mr. Jones, correct? I just have a couple things to ask you if you don't mind." Arthur shuffled around, intimidated by Allen's height and appearance. Allen raised a pierced eyebrow and stuck out his hand for a handshake, rolling his scarlet eyes.
"British huh? Call me Allen, Mr. Jones sounds weird as fuck. Oh shit you aren't going to poison me for swearing are you? Do you also carry around a swear jar?" Allen suddenly asked, retracting his hand and looking at Arthur. Arthur furrowed his large eyebrows in question, looking at Allen incredulously.
"Why the bloody fuck would I poison you? I'm just here to ask you a couple questions about Emilise."
Allen sat back down on the couch, gesturing for Arthur to also take a seat and offering him a bottle of beer, which Arthur politely declined. "Ah so you know my little dollface? Did you also go to college with her in France or some shit?" He asked, taking a swig of his beer. "We've been dating for about four years, and when I moved down here from where I was living with my brother Matt up in Canada, she moved in with me a couple years ago. Before we met she had a kid with this guy she met in France, and he won't give the kid to her. Don't know his name but he seems to have something against Em. Great girlfriend, always faithful and good fun." he reflected, grinning. Arthur cleared his throat awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.
"About that… I'm actually the lawyer and boyfriend of her ex-husband, Francis Bonnefoy. He's the father of her child and they were married for five years, divorcing a couple months ago after he found out that she had been cheating on him… with you." As soon as the words left his mouth Allen sprung up, looking positively furious.
"What?! You lying son of a bitch don't lie to me! I know Em and she would never do that what right do you have to come into my house and accuse my girl of cheating!" He fumed, picking up his bat and glaring at the Englishman. Arthur remained unfazed at the American's aggression and took a couple papers out of his folder and handed them to Allen, expression sympathetic and not fearful like Allen was expecting.
"I'm very sorry that you had to find out like this, but it's the truth. Francis and Emilise are currently engaged in a very furious custody battle over their son, Matthew. I've come to ask you about if you think she would be a good mother." Allen took the papers, which were revealed to be photographs and snarled, seeing pictures from their wedding and Francis with Emilise, even checking the dates on the back to see if the Brit was trying to trick him. He sat back down, placing his head in his hands and tugging at his red-brown hair.
"That lying bitch… what else has she lied about…" He growled, straightening up and glaring at nothing in particular. He looked at Arthur, red eyes filled with rage but also thankfulness. "I hate liars. I hate cheaters. Thank you for telling me. And to answer your question, she is irresponsible as fuck and she can't take care of my brother's pets, much less a kid." His mouth suddenly twisted into a sly smirk and he looked up at Arthur. "I can come with you to testify about how Francis should get Matthew."
The men shook hands, each of their faces twisting in almost identical smirks.
~Present time~
"In my opinion, as her now FORMER boyfriend, Francis should get the kid. She is extremely irresponsible and can hardly take care of pets, much less kids. All she talked about was the money that she would get from child support when the topic of Matthew came up. Hell, the only reason I know his name is because when Arthur approached me, he mentioned it." Allen finished, smirking as Emilise's jaw dropped.
"FORMER!" Emilise shrieked at Allen, who raised his brow, fake pouting.
"You heard me bitch. I don't wanna be with a lying bitch who can't take care of a fucking dog, much less a kid."
"Language Mr. Jones." The judge reprimanded, trying to stop her lips from forming a smile as Emilise began to cry. "Now a question for Ms. Williams." She leaned across the podium, taking off her glasses and rubbing her temple. "Ms. Williams. From what i've heard today, you hardly care for this child, to the point where I have half the mind to arrest you for neglect. Is there any reason you want this precious gift that is a child other than money?" Emilise opened and closed her mouth like a fish, trying to come up with a response.
"B-because I care for Madeline!" she stuttered desperately, glancing around the room for support like a deer in headlights.
"MATTHEW!" The judge yelled, Francis's, Arthur's, Alfred's, and Matthew's voices mixing with her's. "Well that fucking settles it. Mr. Jones i'm the judge I get a pass for swearing." she said as Allen opened his mouth to reprimand her for swearing, then closed it. "I grant Mr. Francis Bonnefoy sole custody of Matthew Williams." She ordered, banging her gavel down with a smile gracing her face. Matthew shrieked with joy, jumping into his father's arms as Francis picked him up and spun him around, before hugging him close, nearly crying with relief. Emilise stood at her place, shocked, before her face twisted and she turned to Allen, who was still up at the stand.
"Allen… Baby please…" She whimpered, desperation clear in her eyes and tone. Allen smirked down at her, placing his hands in his pockets.
"Oh no no no dollface. It's not baby anymore. I want your stuff out by tomorrow noon. Bye bye bi- wait no bas- dammit. Bye bye Emilise!" he cooed, waving at her teasingly. Emilise's face twisted in rage and she looked over the stands at Arthur, who was watching Francis with a soft smile, Alfred hugging his legs while also grinning happily at Matthew.
"YOU ASSHOLE!" She yelled, running over to him and dodging the bailiff, who tried to restrain her but was too slow. Arthur shoved Alfred behind him as she leapt onto him, managing to land a couple frantic punches on his face before she was pulled off by the bailiff. "You cost me my boyfriend, home and child!" She shrieked, trying to get out of the hold.
"Don't touch my daddy!" Alfred yelled as he ran up to her and began hitting her with his little fists, before he was dragged off by Arthur, who was also trying to stop Francis from going over and beating the shit out of his ex wife.
"ENOUGH!" The judge yelled, banging her gavel furiously before giving up and tossing it aside, standing up and putting her hands around her mouth to form a megaphone. "EVERYBODY SHUT THE HELL UP!" everyone froze and looked up at the judge, who sat down, glaring "Emilise Williams I charge you with assault and battery, contempt in court, and child neglect. You have proven to be very unstable, and you will spend some time in the cells below until we find the time to negotiate your sentence." She ordered, standing up and striding to the double doors, kicking them open and yelling "FUCK YOU BITCH JUDGE OUT!", striding through the doors dramatically. Her assistant hurried behind her and a 'your honor no!' and 'DAMMIT CAROL' were heard as Emilise was led out in handcuffs, and everyone celebrated.
Alfred with Matthew in tow ran up to Allen, who was standing with Matt who had entered shortly after the judge exited near the back, hands in his pockets as he looked at the scene with a soft smile. "Thanks Mr. Allen!" Alfred chirped, running up to Allen and tightly hugging him, as Allen froze but then smiled, crouching and returning the hug.
"You must be Matthew, right?" Matt asked Matthew, looking at him curiously.
"O-oui. Je m'appelle Matthew." Matthew softly stuttered, his shyness making an appearance. A look of surprise crossed Matt's face before he smiled, crouching down and extending his large hand to the six year old.
"Bonjour Matthieu, je m'appelle Matt. Je ne savais pas que vous parlez Français." (I didn't know you spoke French) He said, Matthew's face breaking into a smile at hearing French and his shyness fading away as he jabbered excitedly in the language, Matt responding to him. Francis and Arthur stood behind them, Francis's arm around the Brit's waist. Matt and Francis laughed at something Matthew said, looking at Allen and Alfred.
"Now zat 'e mentioned it, I notice it. Do you agree, mon amour?" Francis nodded, scratching his stubble chin thoughtfully. "Oh right, I forgot zat you don't speak Français." He remembered as Arthur glanced at him questioningly. "Matthieu pointed out 'ow Allen et Alfred look similar."
Alfred and Allen looked at each other, Alfred laughing and touching the cowlick in his own hair, pointing at a lock of red-brown hair that stuck straight up on Allen's head. "Look Mr. Allen! We both have this! Cool!" Allen grinned, looking down at the small child. "Thank you Allen! You're a hero!" Alfred suddenly hugged the adult again with all his might, repeating a chant of "thank you thank you thank you". Allen suddenly shrugged off his ww2 era bomber jacket and kneeled down, placing it around the child's shoulders.
"Keep it. It's almost new, and it's the least I can do for such an awesome kid." He said, chuckling as Alfred turned around in the enormous jacket, a look of wonder on his face as he admired his new gift.
"Cool! Daddy look there's a 50 on the back and a plane on the side! Look look look there's fur and a star!" He squealed, Matthew running forward to pet the fur and look at the details Alfred pointed out.
"No really it's the least I can do, he's a really good kid and you told me about her cheating." Allen said as Arthur opened his mouth. "I have one that's nearly identical to this one."
"I was going to thank both you and your brother, both for helping us with the case and for getting along so well with the boys, but it's fantastic that you possess so many bomber jackets." Arthur thanked them, resting his head on Francis's shoulder.
"Pas de problème. Matthew's a pretty neat kid, and I'm glad that he ended up with a good father. If you ever need a sitter, my brother and I volunteer." The men shook hands and exchanged numbers, Francis hugging both warmly and thanking them. Francis took Arthur's and Matthew's hands, Alfred taking Arthur's other hand and walked out to a new chapter of his life, one without cheating wives and drama, instead with a loving boyfriend and lovely son.