AN: Sorry for the wait but thank you so much for all of the comments and whatnot since the last chapter. You guys are amazing!

As Alastair walked beside James and Lily, a thought suddenly came to his head. "Does Chester King know?" he asked without really thinking about Lily being there.

"Do you really think he'd approve of me if he knew?" asked James with a raised eyebrow.

"Well no but didn't you just tell me you didn't care what people think?"

"Yes but I also don't shout it from the bloody roof tops. Besides, before I knew it made you uncomfortable I was going to flirt with you every chance I got. You're pretty damn attractive. I'm not going to be flirting with that old fart."

The compliment and large grin had Alastair turning a deep red. Thankfully Lily didn't seem to notice as she was laughing to hard. "Chester King is the one who runs the tailor shop right?" she asked.

"Yep," James responded.

Lily sighed and replied, "I don't understand why you work for him. Pay or not, he doesn't seem that great."

"He's pretty damn conservative but he's not the devil. Besides, it's good pay and I have good looking coworkers."

"I'd have to agree with that."

Alastair rolled his eyes as he wondered where all of this was coming from. He figured it might be put on for Lily but that didn't really make sense and James wasn't one to say things without completely meaning it.

"I'm not that attractive," muttered Alastair as he shook his head.

Both James and Lily looked at each other and James said, "If me complimenting you like this is making you uncomfortable I'll stop but you certainly aren't the average joe."

"I'm not that attractive," Alastair simply repeated. "And you saying doesn't really matter to me cause it's just not true."

"Alastair, you need a mirror because if you really think that then you are physically paining me," James responded as he put his hand to his heart.

"And you pain me you drama queen," mumbled Alastair.

"Urgh you both pain me. I was hoping you only bickered about ice cream but clearly it's more than that," Lily replied. "How do you keep from ripping each other's throat out? Or from keeping your colleagues from ripping your throats out?"

"They like me to much," replied James with a smirk. "So, what's it going to be for dinner? Hmm? We can stop somewhere and grab more groceries or whatever."

"I don't want to put you out of your way. I'm sure whatever you have will be fine," Alastair responded.

"Then we'll keep heading forward."

Lily looked over and asked, "So did you always want to be a tailor Alastair? I mean, both of you seem to be a bit odd for tailors."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Alastair cautiously.

"Oh nothing, just that I always imagined James traveling the world and I can't see you doing something as boring as sitting and sewing sleeves."

Alastair let out a small sigh and responded, "It's more interesting than it sounds."

"I'll take your word for it," Lily replied with a laugh. "Personally I'd be bored to death. I mean, the one good thing about serving ice cream is all the kids can be pretty great and you meet some interesting people."

"Tailoring leads to some pretty interesting people too," Alastair responded. "But thankfully no kids. I hate them."

"You used to be a kid once," Lily replied.

"And surprisingly most people consider themselves human and yet they still succeed in hating the general populous," Alastair said which earned a laugh and approving grin from James.

They went on like that up until the moment they walked up to the apartment building and started heading up the stairs. Of course, Alastair had been in worst places before but the idea that a Kingsman lived in an area like this seemed impossible. Nevertheless, James pulled out a set of keys and opened up the door. It stuck slightly and he kicked it inwards, the way he did it implying he was use to the movement.

The entire setup was rather simple. The sitting room and kitchen were basically the same area and there wasn't any actual room for a dining area. There were three doors, one heading towards a bedroom, one to a bathroom, and the last most likely to a closet.

"Sit wherever you like," James said as he walked over and threw open his fridge. As he rummaged through it he added, "Unless you're afraid you might catch something."

Alastair rolled his eyes, knowing that the comment was directed towards him. He gracefully slid into one of the chairs, sending a glare at James. "Just because it's obvious you don't know how to decorate or choose quality furniture doesn't mean it equals a haven for the plague."

"Finally, someone agrees with me that you have terrible taste in style," Lily responded as she made herself comfortable on the couch. "Even if ya did put it in better words I've been trying to convince him to make this place at least somewhat decent. And it's not like money's the problem, especially now, but he just won't listen!"

"I like my furniture! No need to change it," muttered James.

"And you're going to keep saying that until you're finally sleeping on a bed or rags. You can't keep things forever," Lily responded.

Letting out a small snort, James replied, "You make it sound like I'm a hoarder now hush! I'm thinking."

Alastair only shook his head as he gave an exasperated sigh and then began looking around with a much more analytical eye. He noted there were several photos of Lily and Alastair together. A few others were with people unknown and one or two looked like they were probably from school.

The last one was of a family, presumably James'. It had been taken in a hospital, the mother clearly tired after having just given birth but still smiling. She held the little baby in her arms who looked equally tired and next to her was a man with a large grin on his face exactly like James'. Alastair could easily pick out what James had gotten from both his parents. His mother's brilliant eyes, the shape of her head. With his dad he obviously had taken the grin and nose. Looking over other qualities, Alastair finally moved his eyes to a fourth figure that was standing off to one side as if he hadn't meant to be in the picture or wished he wasn't.

There was a rather sour look on his face and it made the features almost appear alien even though Alastair could pick out similarities from James. That must have been his brother.

"That's his family," Lily suddenly said, causing Alastair to snap his head back in her direction. "Only the brother is left. He's such an asshole."

"You've met him?" Alastair asked curiously.

She nodded and said, "He came over once, trying to convince James to do something—"

"Come back. To the estate," James supplied as he continued to gather items onto his counter.

"Yeah, that. And Christ it was horrible. Most of the conversation was just him yelling at James that he was making nothing of himself being here and that he was worthless and that it was pointless not listening to him. Technically I wasn't there for the whole thing, I had just walked into the hall when the yelling had started, but even with my door closed his yelling was as clear as a bell."

"I chuckled, told him it was sad he thought such words would honestly work, and slammed the door back in his face," added James as he began setting things up. "Haven't seen him after that. His wife tried to call and make me reconcile once but when I made it clear I wouldn't, she cut off ties as well."

"And you just did that? With your family? Severed them completely?"

"Well yeah. I wasn't going to put up with their shit, blood related or not. Just cause they get stamped with the title of family doesn't mean you're required to love them unconditionally. Even with family respect and trust has to be present," James said.

I wish that was true. The words almost flowed through his lips but Alastair stopped himself before it occurred. No, that would open a door he wasn't ready for. Instead he just mumbled, "I suppose so," and continued on the conversation.

The evening was simple and more bickering between Alastair and James occurred which had Lily rolling her eyes hard enough that they seemed like they might come out of her head. Nevertheless, as it went on Alastair slightly wished Lily wasn't there anymore.

As far as people went she wasn't bad but there were certainly things he couldn't discuss around her. That and if he was being completely honest he was slightly jealous of the ease that Lily and James talked to each other. They'd been neighbors for years! It was pointless being jealous and what exactly was he jealous of anyways? God it made Alastair antsy and every now and then James took notice and would send a look that clearly asked 'are you okay.'

It was odd and annoying and strange and yet weirdly comforting as well and Alastair didn't know why. Once the dinner was ready and Lily clearly stated that she wanted to go to bed, Alastair also took his leave.

"Hope you had a nice time. You can tell me if it was perfectly awful though," James said.

"No, it was nice…certainly different. I don't think I've ever really been over to someone's house for dinner beside family."

"Well, I'm glad to add some versatility to your life," replied James.

"I think we both have enough versatility to last a life time," muttered Alastair. "Good night James."

James grinned in response and replied, "Night Perci-cical."