It was a perfect morning for the small family, Francis had made breakfast for his family, and Arthur washed the dishes while humming a cheery tune. Both Alfred and Matthew sat side by side with their hands intertwined together under the table as they finished up their breakfast. Right now Francis was in the living room taking a call to receive a job to provide for his family, as for Arthur, he was to go to his first job today meaning Francis was going to be left alone with the children.

After breakfast Arthur hurriedly rushed to his room and skimmed through his closet deciding which outfit to wear for his first day at his job, he was going to be helping at the city hall taking calls and helping solve public matters. Though the only thing he worried about were his children, it wouldn't be the first time leaving them, but he remembered the terrible things he had done. Leaving them with Gilbert out of nowhere probably left them a bit more cautious and afraid and that worried him wondering how they would behave without him around. "Mon amour," Francis called from down the hall.

Arthur sighed and grabbed a nice button up shirt and slacks before responding to his lover's call. "Yes, love?" he replied with a faint blush, Francis walked into the room with a charming smile. "I'm so proud of you, you have your first job today. Don't be afraid, I'm sure you'll do extremely well." He walked over to Arthur and rested his hand against his flushed cheek. "I-I need to get ready." Arthur stammered and turned away. Francis chuckled quietly but then sighed allowing his smile to falter. "I don't think Alfred is happy.." He mumbled catching Arthur's attention.

Arthur's heart clenched with pain. "...I understand..." He muttered. "It's my fault he's like that, I left him. I think I may have harmed him in an emotionally painful way." Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat. "And Matthew as well." It was getting hard to breathe for him, but Francis had quickly noticed and instantly pulled him into a tight embrace weaving his fingers through Arthur's hair. "Calm down amour." He whispered.

Arthur took a breath a shudder ran up his spine worrying Francis greatly. "I can never forgive myself for doing such things to my....our children." He whimpered leaning against Francis' chest. "Do not beat yourself up like this!" Francis demanded with a frown causing Arthur to flinch at his sudden outburst. "I'm sorry." Francis apologized quickly. "It's just...I can't bear to see you suffer like this. The past is the past, today is what matters. The children are safe and well." Arthur looked at Francis. "You can change the future by what you do today in the present." Francis smiled at him.

Arthur's heart swelled with astonishment. "Francis, will it be okay if I take Alfred with me?" He asked. "I'd want to take Matthew too, but I see that you two have grown apart lately." Arthur's statement made Francis' heart drop. "A-ah well.." Francis stammered. "Francis I will not let you suffer either," Arthur said in a firm tone startling Francis. "O-okay, thank you amour." He leaned forward and pressed his lips against Arthur's own. After sharing the love-filled kiss Arthur got dressed and Francis helped comb his hair so that no hair stuck out in a messy way. "If anything goes wrong immediately call me," Francis instructed. "Same goes for you," Arthur said.

Francis chuckled. "Of course." After Arthur was fully prepared they both walked to the living room where both boys were playing with the little toys Arthur had bought to keep them occupied, he didn't want them to play outside due to the events that had happened that left him traumatized. Alfred looked up at his parents and pouted when he saw Arthur all dressed up. "Dad..." He mumbled glumly. "Alfred, Matthew." Arthur sighed. "I don't want you both to be upset, and Alfred." He turned to face his pouting son. "Yes, dad?" Alfred asked.

Arthur smiled. "Would you like to go with me?" he asked curiously, Alfred instantly lit up. "Yeah!" he nodded his head frantically up and down, but suddenly realizing that his brother would be left alone left him uncertain. "What about Mattie?" he asked anxiously. "Francis will stay with him," Arthur reassured Alfred turned to face his brother. "Will it be okay?" he asked him. Matthew faced his other father who stared at him with dull blue eyes. "...yes I'll be okay with papa." He mumbled bashfully and dropped his gaze to the ground.

Francis let out the breath he was holding in and smiled to himself, happy that Matthew agreed to stay with him, Arthur called Alfred over to get him ready and Francis kneeled on the ground beside Matthew smiling down at him. "Hello mon petit." He greeted. "Hello papa," Matthew replied with his own small smile. "May I play with you?" Francis asked curiously. "Yes, papa." Matthew nodded hesitantly and handed his father an action figure that Alfred enjoyed to play with.

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Arthur's fingers tapped anxiously against the steering wheel as he drove his anxiety got the best of him and now he was trying his best to calm himself down for Alfred's sake, Alfred sat in the backseat and noticed how anxious his father was. "Are you okay dad?" he asked worriedly Arthur jumped. "Yes! Ah...I mean yes, I'm fine." He sighed and shook his head to clear his mind. "Sorry, are you alright back there?" he asked. Alfred shifted a bit in his seat. "I'm a bit nervous, to be honest." He admitted. "I miss Mattie, but I know he's okay.  We've never really been out before too so it's sorta scary." His voice dripped with anxiety.

Arthur frowned. "It's okay, I feel the same." He said as he paid attention to the road. "But we'll both be together so don't worry." Alfred perked up at the sudden change in his father and smiled. "Okay! We'll do it together." He giggled. "I'll be the hero, and you'll be the sidekick." He snickered causing Arthur to smile in response. "Sidekick? Now that doesn't sound too bad." He sighed happily. "Whenever you're in danger I'll be there to help." He said and he took a quick glance at the review mirror to meet Alfred's eyes before bringing his attention back to the road.

Arriving at the building Arthur had once again begun to worry his heart quickened in pace as did his breathing when he parked the car he leaned against the seat and closed his eyes trying to focus on calming his beating heart and labored breathing. A small hand suddenly rested on his shoulder breaking him from his thoughts he quickly turned around and was met with bright sky blue eyes. "It's okay dad, I'm here for you. And just how a sidekick is there for the hero will always be there for the sidekick." He smiled, and to Arthur, it was as if he were seeing the sun for the first time after living in a cave for all his life.

He returned the smile, but couldn't match the same power Alfred's smile held. "Thank you so much." Arthur unbuckled himself and turned around fully to face Alfred and placed a kiss on his cheek before climbing out the car along with Alfred who couldn't wipe the happy smile from his face. "Dad I know you'll do great." He reassured and stood close by his father's side. Walking into the building Arthur pulled Alfred even closer to him being cautious of the people that walked by, once arriving at the front desk in the lobby a woman who was typing away at a computer.

She was middle-aged with black hair and dull brown eyes dark bags rested under them, Arthur cleared his throat catching her attention. "Yes, how can I help you?" she asked. "Yes, I'm here for the first time on the job. When do I get started?" he asked she looked through the computer. "Let me send the boss a message." She said and then glanced down at Alfred who was hugging Arthur's waist. "Oh? Is he yours?" she asked with a small kind smile, Alfred flinched and hid behind Arthur. "Yes, he's my son." Arthur ran his hand through Alfred's hair. "He's a bit shy, and he would be lonely without me at the house," Arthur explained.

The woman smiled. "I see, how cute." She pulled out a drawer and pulled out a bag of sweets bringing toward Alfred. "Here, some sweeties for your sweetie." She giggled, Alfred looked up at Arthur who nodded in agreement before grabbing a few hard candies and quietly thanked the lady. "So adorable." She turned her attention back to the computer. "Oh! The boss would like to speak with you." She stated. "There's a child care center just around the corner. Employees always leave their children when they work." She explained.

Arthur suddenly frowned. "Oh? Will there be anyone watching over him?" he asked anxiously. "Of course! And if you're still a bit unsure I'll personally watch over him." Arthur didn't know why, but he felt like he could really trust the woman to watch over his son. "Thank you so much." He sighed in relief and kneeled to face Alfred. "Alfred I'm going to work now, but I promise I'll be back really soon." He placed his hand on Alfred's cheek. "But dad, I don't know anyone here." Alfred whimpered. "It's okay I'll be all over the place I promise, I'll always be here when you need me," Arthur reassured in a soothing tone. "...o-okay..." Alfred nodded hesitantly. "I love you, dad." He whispered.

Arthur smiled. "I love you more." He responded and stood. "Alright, where is the boss?" he asked. "In the room right down the hall." The woman pointed toward the direction opposite of the child care center. "Alright, thank you." He nodded. "Alfred behave okay? And be nice to the other kids I'll be back soon I promise." And with a quick kiss on the forehead Arthur left reluctantly still hesitating as he walked. The woman led Alfred to the center where many children played with each other and ran around, Alfred fearfully clutched the candies close to his chest. "Don't be afraid sweetie, I'll make sure no one bullies you." The woman reassured with a kind smile.

Alfred slightly returned the smile and trudged off toward a table filled with puzzles and board games, besides a complete board game rested a vase that held wilting roses. Alfred gaped and stuffed his candies in his pocket before carefully reaching out to caress the thin petals of a rose. "You know I like flowers too, they're really pretty." A voice from behind startled him, he quickly turned around and had to slightly look up to face the person who had spoken to him.

A boy around the age of 10 stood with his hands on his hips, his eyes were blue and filled with life, and his dirty blonde hair was slicked back, he grinned and pointed to himself with his thumb. "Hi!" he greeted happily Alfred's eyes lit up. "My name is Davie." The boy introduced himself, and with that Alfred's life would never be the same.