August 16th, 2014

AUTHOR: actualcanadian

August 16th, 2014

Alfred couldn't help but grin from the kitchen window of their small flat as the little girl hopped off the school bus, clutching a small bouquet of dandelions in her hand as she skipped up to the door to ring the doorbell. "Coming Mia!"

There was nothing better than greeting his little girl at the door, especially now that she was in kindergarten and taking the school bus on her own. "Alice! Mia's home!"

He grinned as he tossed the dishtowel aside, wiping his wet hands on his kitchen apron as he ran out the door and down the stairs, flinging open the door before gathering the little pigtailed blonde in his arms. "Look at this big girl," he chuckled as he carried her up the stairs on his shoulders. "Who are those flowers for?"

He had noticed the slightly conspiratorial smile on the girls face as she looked down at him and he tipped his head back to meet her eyes with a goofy grin on his lips. "You and mum," she said.

Him and Alice? Aww… These were those little parenting moments that made all of it so cute. "What's the occasion, sweet pea?"

She giggled, shaking her head before holding one chubby finger against her lips as if shushing him. "Put me down!" She instructed as Alfred laughed and lifted her off his shoulders to lightly set her on her feet. Small feet padded across the checkered kitchen floor and she grinned sneakily as she stepped into the living room. "Daddy, go get a tie!"

Alfred simply shrugged, kissed her forehead, and went to his room. Her master plan was almost ready!

"Mum!" She called loudly, causing Alice to wince slightly.

"Mia, sweetie, I'm in the office," she called with a sigh as she rubbed her temples. She loved the little girl and she loved Alfred too, more than anything else, but it was hard to balance work with a family.

"Come to the couch room! And wear a dress!"

…:..:…

Alfred leaned back in the worn leather couch, fixing up his blue striped tie just as his daughter had ordered. It wasn't like he had anything better to do, other than maybe wash the dishes. But Mia seemed so excited for this…

Said little girl padded into the living room, dragging her mother behind her. "Okay, mommy over here and daddy right there," she said excitedly as she pointed in front of her. "Right there."

Alfred rose, stumbling a bit as he got up clumsily, walking over in his sock feet to Mia, his long time girlfriend standing beside him in a light blue dress.

"All the kids at school have married dads and mums," she explained, her arms crossed over her chubby little body as she looked up at them almost in disappointment, giving her bouquet of dandelions to her mother. Why hadn't they done this before? Urg, dads and mums could be so weird sometimes. "So you have to get married too or it's weird."

Alfred's brows almost rose to his hairline as Alice blushed deeply. Sure, they had thought about marriage before but it wasn't very possible between nations without combining governments or territories. After 1776, he and Alice weren't willing to risk combining their personal lives with that of their countries. But their little girl wasn't going to take no for an answer, obviously.

"Yeah, mum and dad should probably do that," Alfred said without missing a beat. "So what does baby Mia have in mind to fix that?"

The little girl giggled, picking up a large book on the 20th century from the coffee table. "Gonna get you married," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing on the planet. "Of course.

Alfred tried hard not to laugh as Alice cracked a small smile, gently taking Alfred's hand in hers. "Alright kiddo, let's do this then," the man said as he ruffled the little girls hair. The girl huffed a bit at the ruffling, but cleared her throat dramatically.

"Now, are you in love with mum?" she asked Alfred, to which he chuckled and nodded.

"You betcha."

"Mum, you in love with dad too?" the girl asked with a completely straight face that almost caused Alfred to crack up. But, for the sake of the deep meaning and seriousness of this union, he tried hard not to.

"Yes sweetie," she said with a smile, giving Alfred's hand a light squeeze.

"Good," she said with a grin as she set the book down with a hard thud on the coffee table. "Wait here!"

Alfred watched curiously as the little girl ran and slid across the hardwood floor, slammed the door to her room behind her, and shouted. "YOU CAN KISS HER NOW!"

Unable to hold it in any longer, Alfred burst into uncontrollable laughter, wrapping his arms around Alice's waist as he pressed a warm kiss to her lips, a hand lightly tangled in her sunny blond hair. "Look at that, married," he murmured against her lips. "That's new."

"Shut up, git," she said, lightly teasing as she pulled him closer. "I love you."