As he drew up to them she pulled back, kissing both of her sons on their cheeks and turning to look at a woman stood a few paces away looking at them disapprovingly. This must be her mother. She had told Francis that her mother was with the boys while she was travelling and that she would bring them to the station to meet them. He had never met the woman before, obviously, but he could see England in her.
As England stood to properly greet her mother he caught the first real look at his children and he felt as though his heart had stopped. There could be no question as to who was the father of these children. It was like looking at himself as a four year old, only with a few features lifted from England which made them all the more endearing. He walked forward more quickly now, coming into range to hear this conversation.
“Al, have you been good for Grandma?” England asked, reaching down to ruffle his hair.
“That’s not what I’d call it,” her mother grumbled, folding her arms over her chest. She looked up and met Francis’ eye and he knew within seconds that he did not have a fan here. It stood to reason, really, as he was the man who had caused her daughter to have these two children out of wedlock, but it had hardly been his intention.
The other boy mumbled something, his voice too low to catch and a blush on his face, but his words seemed to be lost to the people standing closer to him as well while England was filled in on Al’s activities. He drew close but hung back a little, not sure of his right to approach. Should he introduce himself or wait for an introduction. He now wished they had used their time on the train more productively.
Luckily he was saved the decision when Matthew’s eyes fell on him.
“Mummy, is this your friend?” he asked, tugging at her sleeve worriedly, his voice a little stronger than the last time he spoke. England threw him a look then turned her attention to Matthew.
“Yes, something like that. It’s good to see you again baby. I don’t suppose I need to ask if you’ve been good?”
“I helped make dinner,” he said, biting his lip in concentration, “And I tidied my room and I ate all my vegetables and I did everything Grandma said I should do just like you told us we should.”
She smiled and reached out, pulling him close and mumbling into his hair how much she loved him, how much she loved them both. Al grinned and Matthew blushed, but a small happy smile appeared on his face, and Francis fell in love.
"Life can be difficult" 2.2/?
As England stood to properly greet her mother he caught the first real look at his children and he felt as though his heart had stopped. There could be no question as to who was the father of these children. It was like looking at himself as a four year old, only with a few features lifted from England which made them all the more endearing. He walked forward more quickly now, coming into range to hear this conversation.
“Al, have you been good for Grandma?” England asked, reaching down to ruffle his hair.
“That’s not what I’d call it,” her mother grumbled, folding her arms over her chest. She looked up and met Francis’ eye and he knew within seconds that he did not have a fan here. It stood to reason, really, as he was the man who had caused her daughter to have these two children out of wedlock, but it had hardly been his intention.
The other boy mumbled something, his voice too low to catch and a blush on his face, but his words seemed to be lost to the people standing closer to him as well while England was filled in on Al’s activities. He drew close but hung back a little, not sure of his right to approach. Should he introduce himself or wait for an introduction. He now wished they had used their time on the train more productively.
Luckily he was saved the decision when Matthew’s eyes fell on him.
“Mummy, is this your friend?” he asked, tugging at her sleeve worriedly, his voice a little stronger than the last time he spoke. England threw him a look then turned her attention to Matthew.
“Yes, something like that. It’s good to see you again baby. I don’t suppose I need to ask if you’ve been good?”
“I helped make dinner,” he said, biting his lip in concentration, “And I tidied my room and I ate all my vegetables and I did everything Grandma said I should do just like you told us we should.”
She smiled and reached out, pulling him close and mumbling into his hair how much she loved him, how much she loved them both. Al grinned and Matthew blushed, but a small happy smile appeared on his face, and Francis fell in love.
~*~*~*~