Hey I made a character page! Link is on my profile! Dudes Simply is my only follower so far!
The day passed on, with frequent offerings of sugar to Al. Molly flittered between couples, a godsend when it came to odd jobs. She picked up all the little things everyone else forgot.
Dinner came and they gathered up, just something simple as they were running low. Francis being the only one who had been able to take off shopping most the summer. Everyone else had been rather busy...
Hence why Al had felt rather cramped today. Other than sitting in the yard and the search for Ro none of them had really left the house.. They needed to get out and do something... But what did you do with a nest of chicks relying on you? Well Matt had had some time with Gil before, and he still needed to get a teddy, maybe he could go shopping tomorrow? If they needed food anyway, no one was likely to object to it.
Either way as soon as dinner ended Al had disappeared up to his room as Francis started cleaning up with a chuckle. Molly looked over to him curiously as she set the dishes in the sink. "What's so funny?"
"Just be sure not to go upstairs for a while~"
She frowned for a moment the blushed furiously as realization filled her eyes. She turned and scrubbed a plate vigorously.
He chuckles again putting away the food, "So how did your day go?"
"Busy, busy," she hummed, grateful of the subject change. "It's surprising just how much Ro didn't know.."
"What's the results?"
"She understands human puberty, not to panic if it turns out she menstruates, that no one is allowed to touch her indecently and which parts of her body that means... I'll not have the poor thing exploited."
He hums softly leaning on the counter.
"I also taught her about manners and addressing people, um... Police; we discussed them and what they do, so she knows about being arrested... I was thinking about teaching her a bit of self-defense... Apparently you lot think she should go to school?"
"Alfred mentioned it, said it would help keep her busy when he's swamped with work."
"She does seem to get rather lonely... A friend might be wonderful."
He smiles brightly.
"We are going to have to smooth out her personality kinks first though..."
"Oh?"
"She's kind of started picking up anger issues, though I hear she hasn't been sleeping very well lately so I might be misinformed..."
"Well she was a bit of a firecracker before the potion, but not as bad as the last few weeks."
"So long as she doesn't start a fight, she'll be okay... I just don't want her getting bullied either... She'll definitely get trouble for her hair."
"Are her eyes still brown? They used to be pink.."
"Still... They were as pink as ever today," Molly1 frowned softly. "A little darker, but definitely pink."
"Hm I guess she didn't tell you of Alfred's little epiphany then?"
She shook her head softly. He smiles telling her about the day she ran into the woods and Al had to bring her back. "Though, we never found out why she hurt herself when she fled to Mattheiu's house.."
Molly hummed, considering it for a moment. "She went through a stage of resenting her change, right? Maybe she'd had enough of her wings because they were bird wings, not fairy wings?"
"Is there anyway to change it do you think? They mentioned feeling something foreign as well.."
"I wouldn't know for sure without digging around and that'd just upset her..."
He hums nodding.
"If the wings start upsetting her too much though, I'll step in..."
"Alright." He takes a few plates starting to dry them.
They worked in silence for a moment. "...Francis..?"
"Oui?"
"Where were they planning to send her to school? She's English, but if Al's sending her...?"
He frowns softly. They hadn't thought of that.. In an American school, her accent might cause her no end of grief... But sending her to school in England meant either Al was uprooted or Ro went to live with Arthur... "This might be a problem.."
"Oh yeah?" she laughed sarcastically. "How the hell did you guys last this long without me?"
"Well in our defense we've been rather distracted with grumpy mothers." He shot playfully.
"Never forget the firstborn when the new arrivals come," she scolded kindly, not entirely joking though. "Don't think I haven't heard how you all let her disappear between the cracks. She's your daughter now just as the twins are your sons."
"I know.. It's just hard when half the house is having a tantrum."
"I know sweetie, but whoever said families are easy is a halfwit with more words than knowledge."
Francis chuckles at that.
"Look on the bright side, they're all growing fast. Soon you'll be back on track."
"Hopefully. Though I've heard we might not see Mattieu for a while once he leaves."
"Guess it takes a while to teach a bear how to be a bear," she shrugged.
Francis nodded softly, didn't mean he still wouldn't miss him though..
"Don't look so sad," Molly smiled softly. "I imagine he's safer as a bear than he would be explaining this to his boss."
He chuckled at that.
"I'll finish up here if you want to go sit with Arthur?"
He smiles pecking her cheek before leaving. Arthur just smiled warmly as Francis came into the lounge. He sat down pulling the Brit into his lap cuddling.
"You really dote on her, you know," Arthur leaned in, kissing his chin. "It's quite sweet.'
Francis chuckles softly, "Well you and your siblings had always felt like family to me, even if we got off to a rough start."
"Honestly, I'd say you're closer to her than I am half the time..."
He hums softly, hugging him. Arthur snuggled in, smiling lightly. Francis kissed him softly.
Arthur hummed, kissing for a moment before pulling back to look at the kittens in their basket. "They're getting bigger."
"How are they doing?"
"Happy as can be."
He smiles picking one up. It mewled softly, little eyes bright and alert. Francis chuckles nuzzling it.
It pawed curiously at his face. Odd that he only had fur in that one spot. The kitten padded at it intently; trying to figure it out. Francis giggles kissing it's nose. It meowed happily; squinting its eyes in a kind of grin.
"Hey Arthur?"
"Yes?"
"Alfred wants to send Ro to school, but Molly brought up the question on where she could go.."
"Wherever Alfred wants to send her, I assume? He took her on, so legally, he's her guardian..."
"That's not what I meant.." As he explains what Molly said.
He frowned softly at that, petting a rabbit that had managed to climb into his lap somehow. "Quite the predicament..."
Francis shrugs softly snuggling his kitten.
"We need Alfred and Ro to sit with us and discuss this properly."
"That will have to wait till morning though."
"That's alright, so long as we remember..." Arthur thought for a moment before calling through "Molly? Stick a note of the fridge to talk with Al and Ro, please." The Frenchman hums setting the kitten on his chest and hugging Arthur. Both of them nuzzled in, purring softly in content.
The next morning Al and Ivan came down to the table late, Al leaning on the latter sleepily. Molly was in the kitchen, making lunch. Francis was sitting with the kittens.
At the sound of the two men coming down, a few of the kittens looked up curiously. One tried to go explore. Francis pulls it back though. Al glanced over to them. Arthur smiled warmly at them.
Al smiles back softly, hand clinging to Ivan's. Ivan stole a quick kiss, suggesting they find coffee. Al nods and they head to the kitchen. Molly had gone off into her own little world, bobbing about to whatever song was playing in her head. Al glanced at her as he started the coffee pot.
Ivan smirked softly, glancing from Al to Molly. "Shall I..?"
Al grins back. Ivan turned, grabbing Molly by the waist and lifting her quickly. She screamed in surprise, curling up instinctively. Al laughs lightly.
Ivan grinned, pulling her into a hug. "You're cute when you're scared."
"Put me down!" She knew Ivan was teasing but he'd nearly made her drop her drink.
Al smiles turning back to start the coffee. Ivan set her down and she punched him playfully.
Once the brew was started Al sat down at the table to wait.
"So what's new lazybones?" Molly plonked down next to him.
"Not much." He shrugs.
"I think Artie wanted a chat with you?"
"About what?"
"Ro, I think? We were trying to figure out just what you had planned for her school."
"Oh. Well we still have to teach her how to write and stuff.."
"We?" she quirked a brow.
"Ivan started on the reading already."
The Russian smiled softly.
"Okay, so she can read. Does she know numbers yet?"
"...no..."
"Maybe it'd be best to wait till next year.." Al rubs his neck. "She'd have more time to catch up.."
"Why not enter her in a lower year?," Molly shrugged. "Or, I dunno, maybe start giving her some actual lessons?" she gave him a pointed little frown.
He held up his hands in surrender, "Yeah lower might be best.. Can we pass her as younger than 14?"
"She's quite small and looks quite young but I doubt you'd pass her younger than twelve..."
He nodded softly. That still meant about seven years of education needed to be filled in... They had a lot of work to do..
"I'll help out with her lesson, but you need to start getting involved mister," she prodded his shoulder firmly. "She looks up to you, so don't let her down."
"I know.. I was going to go out today to get her a new teddy.. Maybe I can take her with me?"
Molly smiled at that. "Use the prices in the store to teach her numbers and money."
"Alright."
"She's upstairs in her room," she smiled. "Go see her. Just let her know you do care, okay?" That was half the reason she'd kicked up a storm... It was hard to believe you were loved when no one ever proved it. Al stood up and filled up a mug before heading upstairs.
Ro was in her room as promised, curled up by her eindow with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland open in her lap, dilligently sounding out the words. Al walks in sitting beside her.
She looked up and smiled brightly. "Hey! Arthur gave me a book."
He looks at it. "Yeah that's a good one. It gets kind of nutty though." He grins.
"She's talking with the Che..." she frowned, turning back to the book a second. "Che...shhh... Cheshearee Cat?"
"Cheshire, yeah he's kind of odd himself."
"Cheshire..." she muttered it a few times to get used to it. "I like him. He's all upside down and back to front."
"He can disappear into thin air too."
"Really?!" she gasped excitedly.
"Yep. If you want you can keep reading later, I was wanting to know if you wanted to go shopping? Maybe get a new bear?"
"For real?" she hadn't looked so happy in months... He really had been lax as a big brother...
"Yeah."
She quickly bookmarked her page before hugging him tightly and running off to find clothes. Al smiles going downstairs to finish his coffee and grab the list. Ro soon came down, blushing furiously with a grinning Molly behind her. The Irishwoman had bullied her into one of her dresses for a change. Al glances up to them.
"Look Alfie, isn't she pretty?" Molly giggled.
"Yeah, she is."
Ro squeaked, blushing so hard she looked like she'd pass out. Al just smiles going to get his shoes. At least Ro had calmed down by the time he got back. He gave Ivan a quick kiss and they headed out.
As they started driving, Ro's excitement came back. They headed to the toy store first.
The moment they walked in, Ro was in awe. "It's so big...!"
"A little bit."
"Where are the teddybears...?"
"I think they're this way." She followed him through the store, nearly squealing in delight when they found the cuddlies. They had all kinds, not just bears either.
"I wanna take them all home..."
Al chuckles. "Sorry, just one. By the way." he takes out a twenty dollar bill. "Wanna learn a little more about money?"
"Sure!" she grinned.
Al grins and proceeds to explain how much he had and how much the plushies were, trying to help her figure out the difference.
It took her a lot of frowning and finger counting but she just about got there. "So... If we only have enough for one... I want..." she gazed around the shelves. "Um... I dunno..."
Al hums looking around. There were so many to pick from, it was easy to see why she was struggling.
"Well I guess pick a color first."
"Um... I like blue...?" she shrugged. "But purple is pretty too... Red?"
Alright maybe this was harder than he thought..
Ro suddenly gasped, running towards a corner where to shelves met, trying to reach something at the back of an almost empty, almost hidden shelf. Al blinks coming over. She stretched in, feet leaving the floor for a moment before she pulled out a big floppy polar bear. "Lookit! He looks just like Mr. Kumajiro!"
Al chuckles "Yeah a little."
"Can I keep him? I promise I'll look after him," her eyes sparkled hopefully.
"If that's the one you want?"
She nodded vigorously, hugging it tight. The stuffie was nearly the same size as Kuma. She could use it as a pillow!
"Alright let's go pay for it then."
"Can I do it?"
"Sure."
She took the money and the bear and ran off to find a till. Al followed along after her.
Once she found it, she stepped back into Al and asked how it worked.
"The cashier scans the stuff and tells you how much you owe, then you pay them and get change if there is any."
She nodded softly, shuffling up to the cashier. "Um... H-hello..."
She smiles back, "Hi, find everything ok?"
She nodded softly, holding up her bear. "I wanna take him home..."
She scanned the bear and rang it up. Ro fidgeted anxiously, worried she wouldn't have enough.
"$17.43."
She quickly counted it up on her fingers then looked at her note and smiled, handing it over. The cashier gave her the change and bear.
She grinned, snuggling it happily. "Thank you!"
Al grins and they head out to the car. Ro curled up with her bear, handing Al the change. Al puts it away and they head off to the grocery store.