I don't own Hetalia, okay? I'm working slowly and surely on getting this story updated, but it will be. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
It was a long ride, but finally, the train pulled to a stop in Miami. Alfred got off the train, helped Lovina off and felt the breeze from the ocean on his face. It was nice, and warm and the sound of the waves. It was pleasant to be so far from Chicago and all his problems. His only concern now was his new wife and their unborn child. He took her hand and walked off the train where a dark-skinned porter was standing, holding a sign that said, "Mr. and Mrs. Jones." "Hello." Alfred said, "So you're here for us?"
"Yes sir. Mr. Julius said that I was to get your baggage and drive you to the summer house he had me set up for your lovely honeymoon." The porter said.
"Thank you." Alfred said as he followed the porter to the car and helped Lovina in. He looked over at her as she looked over the window, forlorn. This worried Alfred, this was supposed to be a happy time for them, even if it was briefly before they went back to Chicago. He thought maybe being away from her grandfather would put her in a better mood, kind of like when she was at the farm. Then again, she had her moments of when she was a total bitch then too. He reminded himself. She looked over at him and he winced back as if she had read his mind.
"It's nice to be away from Grandpa." Lovina sighed with a slight smile, putting her hand on Alfred's. She didn't want to say what she was thinking, that now that he had married her and into the family, he was in greater danger than before and that Julius likely knew what really happened and wanted him to pay. "It'll be us, the ocean, and the warm weather." She smiled. "Grandpa has us staying at his summer home here in Miami, but he's having us our own house built."
"Wow..." Alfred said. "I mean I was thinking we could go back to the farm, I mean I need to start the planning for the summer and..." Lovina looked at him sadly. "So, because we're married, he's keeping us in Chicago, and just using the farm."
"Yes." Lovina looked at her feet. "I am sorry!" She pleaded.
"Calm down," Alfred said pulling her closer. "I love you, and no one in your family will make me change my mind."
"Seriously?" She asked despondent but toughing up her voice. "I thought you were marrying me because you had to. You did get me pregnant."
"I slept with you because I love you." Alfred said. "I may have told you but some of my unit stopped at a brothel in France in the war. I partook of the wine and not of the girls. I was the drunken choir boy because I couldn't bear to sleep with a woman I didn't love." This made Lovina smile a little bit as they finally pulled up to the street the manor was on. "I didn't expect marry you this soon, but, hey it is what it is. Junior couldn't wait to meet us." He looked out the window at the palm trees and the spreading manor.
"This is it." Lovina said, Alfred's mouth dropped agape. The building reminded him of some of the old Roman places he had read about. "Yeah, Grandpa designed it off some Emperor's palace back in Rome." She sighed. "Sure, he may rule the Chicago underground, but he thinks he's some sort of Emperor..." She sighed. The porter opened the trunk and took the suitcases in. "There is a pool, for swimming and a dock that leads right to the ocean."
"That's nice." Alfred said.
"Great for fishing." She smiled back.
"Well, that's great." He said as he pulled her close and kissed her deeply. Lovina smiled as she broke the kiss and headed to the master suite.
"I am going to lie down. I am rather tired from the trip." She said, Alfred pouting. "Don't worry, we will have so much time to be with each other, however Helena tells me that when I am feeling tired, to rest. It is what is best for the baby."
"Well, if Helena says so." Alfred sighed, knowing that she was the one that Lovina had been seeking advice from and the only one outside of them that had known she was pregnant. He had only meet her a few times, and that was when she was with Julius, so they could not really talk outside of his influence, but if Lovina trusted her and she was being the older mother figure that she needed in a time like this, then Alfred was okay with it. "I want Junior to be healthy more than anything in the world."
Giovanni drove through Chicago with Julius' latest suit that needed to be cleaned and to pick up the one he had left with Yao. He was also heading to hire some of the striking workers at the latest skyscraper that was being built. He knew that they were going to need some way to get money while the bosses negotiated, but Giovanni also didn't think that Julius knew full well what they could do with the influence they could have in a union. He looked over at the crowd of striking workers, seeing that many of them might be useful beyond just helping to build the house. But first, he was going to drop of the laundry. Parking the car in front of the laundromat, he turned it off and grabbed Julius's tuxedo he wore for the wedding and headed inside.
"Ai yacht Hello." Yao said, seeing who it was coming into the laundry. "You must be the one who brought the suit last week."
"Well, Master Julius was at a wedding, and he does tend to enjoy himself." Giovanni explained. "I trust you will do a good job."
"You can see for yourself." Yao said as he handed the old suit to Giovanni. Meanwhile, Leon was brushing the shop, keeping an eye on Giovanni and Yao. He had been picking things up more and more often and perfecting his pickpocket craft, but he was concerned with what he could do with Giovanni around. He was bound to have something important that he could give Arthur. There was a wad of money sticking out the back. While he was talking to Yao, he reached over and grabbed the wad and headed into the back. In the laundry room, Leon counted the bills and saw a slip. "Payment to Matteo, 500 dollars at Baudette Ontario at the Red Lumberjack." and it was dated two weeks earlier. Leon then headed out and headed over to the county offices. He knew Arthur was working his main job today and lunch time was coming up. Arthur often would go to the fish shop and have a sandwich. Walking past the striking workers, he headed over to see Arthur standing in line.
"Hello." Arthur said as he looked at Leon. "How can I help you?"
"Sit." Leon said as he headed to the bench and sat Arthur down who looked at him skeptically while he took a bite of the sandwich. "I grabbed this off of Giovanni after he brought Julius's wedding tux into grandpa's shop." Arthur placed down his sandwich and read it.
"What do you make of this?" Leon said.
"It's a business dealing. A big one." Arthur said. "If he's paying 500 dollars, it must be a decent sized shipment."
"How is it with our suppliers." Leon asked.
"Alba handles that." Arthur said firmly. "I do not like talking about such things on my lunch break." He said, and Leon nodded getting the hint. Arthur looked over at the striking workers at the site nearby. "So how long has that strike been going?"
"3 weeks." Leon said.
"No changes from management?" Arthur said.
"Not that I hear. Many people who came from China with gramps and I are being called into work there while the locals strike. He's been making a poultice for a lot of the ones who get beat up by the workers."
"Striking men do not like the scabs crossing the picket line." Arthur said as he took a bite of his sandwich. "Let me know who gets past the workers and who doesn't. Those who get past and get to work can be of good use."
As they sat there, Giovanni had pulled up and started talking to the workers.
"What is he doing?" Leon asked out loud, causing Giovanni to look over at Leon and head over to him.
"Why I have business to conduct young man. An honest operation. Something you would know nothing about. If you aren't careful, it will get you in a very bad place." Giovanni said as he went back to the lead worker who was speaking over the crowd about what their demands were. "Let's talk." He said as he took the chief union leader and headed into the backway.
"Who are you and what do you want?" He asked gruffly.
"I have to ask you a few things." Giovanni said. "Can I have your name?"
"Smith. John Smith." The man said.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Smith." Giovanni said, knowing that he was giving him a pseudonym. "I wonder, I've been following the papers. It's been a long fight. Three weeks huh?"
"What of it?" Smith asked.
"It has to be tough on men with families. Ones who are fighting to make sure they can put a good meal on their children's tables. They're bound to get weak. Give into the bosses."
"No, they won't..." Smith said but he had a tone of doubt in his voice. "Some have been wanting to join those Chinamen in scabbing, because their families are suffering and they're worried that we're making our cause look bad by beating the scabs..."
"That's where you need my organization's help." Giovanni said. "We have plenty of people who can help with the negotiations. And we want to help. Who are the ones that need money the most?"
"I know a few." Smith said.
"Well Julius is building a house. He wants it done well and fast. And is willing to pay well as well." Giovanni explained.
"I'm listening." Smith said.
"You come help my organization get this house built and we will be the ones to make sure that you get what you are striking for." Giovanni said.
"Where's the job site?" Smith asked.
"Here." Giovanni said giving him a piece of paper.
"Leon," Arthur said. "I want you to get me this order and bring it to Amelia's place. I plan to give it to Alfred whenever I see him again. The wedding announcement said he would be in Miami afterwards, how long I don't know." He looked over at the strike where Giovanni walked away from with Smith talking to some of the men who had looked relieved at the offer of work. Arthur scowled, thinking of what he would have to do now. It was obvious to him that Julius was expanding to being a part of the unions. He was trying to think what exactly it would do, but Arthur knew it was a flex of his influence. "Also, see what you can do. See if one of those men have the address of the site." Leon took the note from Arthur and headed along. At this, Giovanni took Leon's hand and pulled him aside.
"So, you're the one who took my money huh?" Giovanni said.
"No." Leon lied.
"Don't lie to me." Giovanni said. "I felt you. I felt you move behind me and take the money I had in my back pocket, along with the old information I had. I know you are with a rival gang. One that is working in your grandfather's laundry somehow and we will crush you. The Vargas clan is the one who runs Chicago. And don't you forget it." He stared into Leon's eyes. "Understood."
"Understood." Leon said, hiding his fear.
"Good. Everyone gets one warning. One." Giovanni said. "Find yourself some honest work before you and your grandfather get in over your head." He said walking away.
Leon looked on with a shocked look on his face. Was it true? Were they getting in over their head? Did Julius really have his eye on them? And what did that Alfred have to do with this? He looked at the note in his hand and sighed. Arthur did likely know what he was doing with making Alfred feel welcome, however it was worrying how deep things were getting.
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't have much else to say here with this one, so remember to read, well you just did and review. Ciao for now,
Otherrealmwriter
Aka
Realm.
