DC was alone in the house.

All the other states were gone off on adventures for the day; most of the southern states were gone either shopping or at some kind of sports event, the eastern states followed some of the southern states to said sports event to cheer for the opposite team to mess with them and possibly start a fight, DC didn't know what the midwestern states were doing but it probably involved drinking or fighting, and the western states were probably doing anything that involved avoiding California.

DC was truly alone.

He had work to do, he knew this. His desk was full of paperwork and laws, and he already had five emails in his inbox and texts from IDC and Gov. But as he glanced around the messy kitchen knowing they were low on food and had stacks of laundry in the laundry room waiting to be done, he figured work could wait.

The fed quickly got to work in the kitchen scrubbing the counters and the floors, unloading and loading the dishwasher, throwing out any trash that accumulated, and even took out the meat for dinner from the freezer that Oklahoma forgot before he left. He sat back on his heels and looked at his handiwork, proud of himself. It'd probably be a mess when the states got home but for now it looked picturesque. DC grabbed his coffee mug out of the Keurig and took a sip, checking his watch as he did. He had at least two minutes before his break, maybe he could at least start his shopping list.

DC grabbed a piece of pad of paper from the drawer and a pen, then sat at the kitchen island ready to write. He glanced up at the dinner schedule hanging on the fridge, remembering the fiery debate not a night before over next week's dinners. DC snickered and started writing his list, putting stars on things he knew he'd have to go to a special store for, i.e. California's vegan items. He was halfway through the list when his Apple watch beeped, signifying it was time for a break. DC groaned; if he didn't eat his boyfriends and dads would surely know. So he got up, went to the cabinet and pulled out one of the protein bars Kentucky bought for him, and went to the living room to watch some trash TV.

After an hour of trash TV ("Oh he's not the father." DC muttered more engrossed in the show then he'd care to admit.) DC's watch beeped again, signifying he was free to work again. He returned to the kitchen and finished the list, checking over the schedule again to make sure he didn't miss anything. He knew he had two hours before the next break, enough time to do a load of laundry and do the shopping. Leaving the list, he went to the laundry room and gazed at the mess, the well organized mess. DC didn't like to take credit for it, and if anyone asked he claimed it was Utah, but he came up with a system to make laundry less chaotic. He crouched down and checked which baskets were in the room; Nevada, Texas, and Florida. DC quickly started loading the washer, pausing briefly to smell his partners shirts. He finished loading the washer and started it up, sitting back and smiling at his work.

The fed checked his watch once again before leaving the washing machine, grabbing the list and his keys before making his way out the door. He didn't mind grocery shopping as much as he pretended to hate it. It was his one time where felt relaxed, other than being with his boyfriends or dads. The soft rock music, the aisles of food, the smells and sounds, it was oddly calming. He started at a Publix and found most of the items needed, then traveled a little further to a Whole Foods for more of California's things. DC made it home in record time and started putting the food away, ignoring the nagging part in the back of his brain yearning for a pantry. A pantry that was like the ones on Instagram, well organized with white containers and clear labels. If they had the space, he'd try to start one, but Texas was already hellbent on making him a library, he didn't dare to ask for a pantry too.

DC finished just in time when his watch went off, signifying the next break. He groaned, he really wasn't feeling hungry. He knew that Janet and the clinic had said if he ate at one of the breaks he wasn't required to eat at the other, it was just important that he took a break. DC threw out the bags then went to his room to retrieve a book, before going back to the living room sitting on the couch. He opened the book and had every intention of reading it, until his eyes felt droopy and he slowly fell asleep.

He was awoken by the sound of his watch beeping, and the front door opening and closing.

"Baby?" California whispered approaching the couch.

"Mmph afternoon Cali." DC greeted the two kissing.

"What'd you do all day?" California said with a grin.

"Worked a little, I ate." DC announced, California rubbing his cheek.

"Good. I'm glad rosie." California whispered, sitting down besides DC and bringing him in close. DC smiled secretly and nuzzled his face against his shoulder, breathing in the smell of fire and the slight hint of weed.

No one had to know.