"What do you think he yelled at her about?" Alfred asked Arthur as the two removed the several throw pillows from their bed, discarding them off to the side so only their normal pillows remain.
"I'm not quite sure, but by remembering what he was like last time he was here, I'm pretty sure it was something involving us." Arthur scoffed as he folded down the bed's comforter to expose the clean white sheets. Last time- and the only time- the couple met Mary Jo's fiancé Nathan he wasn't exactly Mr. Kind-and-courteous. Mary Jo had slightly hinted to the fact that he wasn't exactly open minded to the kind of relationship Alfred and Arthur shared.
Arthur was very sensitive to the subject of his homosexuality. It wasn't like he was ashamed of his marriage to Alfred. In fact the Brit would proudly flaunt their relationship and shout from the roof tops that he loved his husband with all his heart. The thing that Arthur was sensitive about was people who believed that what he and Alfred shared was something wrong. Those many close minded people who think love is something that can between only men and women. Whenever Arthur came across one of those impossible people he always had to do his best not to deck them across the face and start ranting on about how love isn't something that happens just between men and women.
Why couldn't Alfred and Arthur be together? As long as they loved each other what did it matter if they were a man and woman, two women, or two men?
"You don't know that Arthur." Alfred pointed out as he began removing his shirt as he normally slept in nothing but a pair of cotton superman printed pajama bottoms.
"Well I have good reasons to believe so." Arthur shot back as he drew back the sheets and hauled himself into bed. "He's probably just another one of those close minded homophobic bastards who thinks our love is wrong."
"Arthur," Alfred chided sternly.
"What? I can't stand people like that. They're so thick headed that they won't even listen to reason." Arthur didn't feel as if he was saying anything wrong. As far as the Brit was concerned he was perfectly right in his words.
"I know, I know," Alfred soothed his husband as he crawled into bed next to him, snuggling up close to the Brit's petit form and wrapping his arms around him. "It's not easy dealing with people like that, but for Mary Jo's sake don't say anything to her. It seems like she stressed out enough as it is and all that stress isn't good for the baby."
That would pretty much stop Arthur dead in his tracks. The Brit frowned in defeat as snuggled up closer to Alfred. "Yes, I suppose you're right."
"Don't worry, everything will work out fine. Nathan seemed to be at least decent enough that he wouldn't just kick her out, especially in her condition." Alfred soothed as he brushed his finger against Arthur's forehead, gently pulling his messy bangs out of his liquid emerald eyes. "For now let's just get a good night's rest and we'll get everything all sorted out in the morning."
Arthur mumbled a sleepy word of agreement as he relaxed and settled down into the bed, pressed against Alfred's chest. He drifted off to sleep with the comfort of Alfred's presence and his mumbling of sweet nothings.
When Arthur's eyes cracked open the next morning he found that he had once again been pushed to the near edge of the bed awkwardly covered in sheets. Alfred was still asleep next to him, snoring like a motor boat as he stretched his long limbs out over most of the bed. Arthur had somehow become used to this over the course of the three years he and Alfred had been married, but still he thought it would be best to invest in a king sized bed. His sleepy half lidded gaze slid over to the alarm clock on the night side table where the little red numbers flashed 7:30 AM. Alfred would have to get up for work.
Arthur rolled over- being carefully not to get tangled in the sheets- so he faced Alfred. "Al, get up. You have to get ready for work." He grumbled as he weakly smacked the American's arm a few times.
Alfred groaned and rolled over onto his side. "Ngh… I'm taking off today…"
Arthur sighed and shook his head. Alfred said that nearly every morning just because he wanted to sleep and Arthur would then proceed to kick him out of bed or pour cold water on his head, but today he let it slide seeing as how Alfred still had plenty of sick days left. One day off wouldn't kill him.
"Fine, you git." Arthur insulted affectionately as he lightly ran his hand over the American's cheek. "Just for today."
Arthur sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed and took in a deep breath before he put all his weight on his feet and stood up. He stretched his thin arms high over his head and grunted as his back comfortably cracked. He thought he might as well head down stairs and call Alfred out of work since it didn't seem like the American was going to be getting up anytime soon. As he opened their bed room door and the sounds of Alfred's infernal snoring grew quieter Arthur heard a new noise and was one that he would gladly choose snoring over.
The bathroom door was tightly closed and from behind its wooden surface came the awful gagging and choking noises of someone "losing their lunch." Memories of last night vaguely flooded back into Arthur's mind as he remembered how Mary Jo had come to their house in seek of refuge after a fight with Nathan. Sure enough when he looked though the open door of the guest bedroom the bed was left unmade and the sheets tossed to the floor as if she had made a hasty run for the bathroom.
Poor girl. Arthur had read about the perils of morning sickness in one of the many books he had purchased. To be honest the sounds of her being sick made Arthur's stomach churn and made him feel like he was going to be sick along with her. The Brit swallowed the acid rising in the back of his throat as he approached the door. "Mary Jo?" He called as he lightly rapped his knuckles against the door. "Are you alright?" Idiot. Of course she wasn't alright. She definitely didn't sound alright.
There were a few moments of silence, well not really silence but she didn't say anything. She coughed a few times before her voice came from the other side of the door. "Yeah... don't worry I'm fine..." She faded off and Arthur cringed back slightly as he heard her release the contents of her stomach out into the porcelain bowl once again. She must've been finished because soon Arthur heard the toilet flush followed by a few shuffling sounds and the small swish of the faucet being turned on. Arthur waited in silence for a few more moments while he guessed Mary Jo was attempting to rid her mouth of that awful acidic taste.
Soon thought the door clicked open and there she stood in a pair of light sage green cotton pajamas she must've had pack in her bag. Her blonde curls were ruffled and sticking up in awkward directions probably messed up from her sleep. She held a tissue against her mouth as she looked over at Arthur with cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry about that... but this kinda happens pretty much every morning."
"Oh no, don't worry about it," Arthur reassured. It wasn't as if the poor girl could help it. It was just one of the weird things a body did during pregnancy. "Is uh… is there anything I can get for you?" Arthur asked politely; really trying to remember whether or not he had stocked mouthwash in the guest bathroom.
She shyly looked up at Arthur, chewing on the nail of her thumb. "Um… I'm real sorry, but uh… I'm kinda hungry…" With the way she spoke so quietly and fidgeted you would think she was asking for something as precious as an eight carat diamond ring or something (Her nervous and shy behavior eerily reminded Arthur of his brother in law, Matthew.)
But of course Mary Jo was hungry; she was feeding for two after all. "Oh yes of course, whatever you want I can bet we have it. Alfred likes to keep a well stocked kitchen."
The two quaintly chatted as they headed down the stairs to the kitchen where Arthur started going through his morning routine of preparing a pot of his favorite beverage- only stopping briefly to call Alfred out of work. Arthur was surprised as he and Mary Jo got into a very intense conversation about preferences in teas. It was nice to talk about tea for a change considering Alfred couldn't ever stomach the dried leaf and water mixture and preferred to drink super caffeinated coffee with four spoonfuls of sugar. (As if the already hyper American needed more caffeine….)
Mary Jo had requested nothing more than a few pieces of plain white toast for breakfast. "Is there anything you like on it?" Arthur inquired. "Butter, jam, cream cheese?" Like he said earlier, whatever she named there was an eighty percent they had in the fridge or pantry.
"Uh…" She began nervously. "I know this is going to sound really weird… but uh, can I have peanut butter," Oh well that wasn't weird. Alfred often ate toast with peanut butter on it. "And pickles?" Oh. So that was the weird part.
Even though Arthur could feel his stomach acids churning again at the thought he merely forced a smile upon his lips. "Of course, whatever you want." He said as he moved to get the requested items. Oh god, please don't let this child have Alfred's appetite or eating habits, oh please…. Arthur silently begged.
Suddenly, "HOLY SHIT!" Echoed like good god from upstairs followed by a small thunk which was followed by a huge crash. Mary Jo just about nearly jumped a foot out of her seat while Arthur merely sat there and sighed. He knew Alfred had risen from his dead sleep, seen the alarm clock, freaked out thinking he was late, and then fell out of bed to the hard wood floor below. "Arthur! Arthur I'm gonna be late for work! Why didn't you wake me up?" The sounds of his footsteps sounded heavy on the ceiling as the large American ran back in forth in a desperate attempt to get ready and get to work on time.
Arthur only sighed again and shook his head. "I already called you out! Stop running around!" Arthur called back as he leaned against the kitchen counter. The hectic thumping stopped. Arthur gave a weary smile and looked over at Mary Jo. "He's a bit of an idiot," He chuckled.
She laughed too. "Maybe, but you love him."
Arthur nodded his head and agreed. "Yes that is true, I do."
Arthur nursed his cup of tea and Mary Jo her um… "Breakfast" when Alfred's footsteps on the stairs grew louder and louder until the ash blonde American appeared in the door way of the kitchen. He grinned and nervously scratched the back of his head. "Ha-ha, man that nearly gave me a heart attack."
"Maybe if you learn to wake up that wouldn't have happened." Arthur teased lightly.
"What can I say? I'm not a morning person." He chuckled as he walked over to where Arthur sat at the kitchen table and gave him a quick good morning kiss. Alfred's blue eyes flicked up behind his glasses that were sliding down the bridge of his nose. "Hey Mary Jo," He beamed. "How're you doing this morning?"
She swallowed a mouthful of her strange concoction she called breakfast. "Fine, thank you very much."Alfred looked down at her meal and swallowed hard with distaste as he tried to not vomit at the sight.
"That's uh… that's quite the breakfast you got there…" He laughed nervously.
Her cheeks flushed a blushing shade of pink. "I know… I… well I just kinda had a craving for it I guess…" She nervously fidgeted.
"Leave the poor girl alone Alfred. She can't help it." Arthur gently scolded.
"I wasn't making fun of her." Alfred protested as he left the table and headed over to the fridge to find something that suited his fancy for that morning's breakfast. "Well I don't know about you Arthur, but I'm gonna cook up some eggs and bacon." The American said as he pulled out the ingredients; holding them in both his arms as he gently kicked the fridge door closed.
"Sounds fine to me, love." Arthur agreed before he began to strike up another harmless conversation with Mary Jo. Alfred whistled happily to himself as he bustled about the kitchen preparing his and Arthur's meal. He had just placed a few strips of bacon into the pan- the intoxicating smell filling his nose- when suddenly the sound of one of the chairs screeching back on that tiled floor echoed loudly in his ears.
"Excuse me!" Mary Jo barley managed to shout as she ran down the hall way, hands clasped over her mouth.
Arthur shot up from his seat. "Bathroom is the first door on your right, love!" He knew what was wrong- her morning sickness was probably triggered by the smell of the frying bacon- but Alfred didn't know that.
"Whoa is she okay?" Alfred shouted in surprise, turning around so quickly that his loose grip on the spatula sent it flying out of his hand and crashing into a nearby cabinet.
"She should be alright, it's only morning sickness." Arthur explained as he picked up the nearby newspaper. Alfred thought about it as he went over and picked up the projectile weapon that was once a spatula, examining the cabinet to make sure he hadn't scratched the wood. Well jeeze, in times like these Alfred sure was glad he wasn't a woman.
Slow chapter I know, but bear with me. I have a whole dramatic thing going on next chapter and I didn't want to add it to this chapter otherwise it'd be waaaay too long. So in any case please review. You guys have really no idea how great it feels to receive feedback. It really keeps me going when I get tired of writing or have a mental block. Thanks so much lovies! Next chapter will be better I promise!