A Teacher's Heart

Chapter Two

A/N: This chapter is the one shot that I wrote, so for those who don't want to re-read it, they can skip it! Everyone else, please enjoy! ❤

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"Oh, and Millie, don't forget your art project from today!~" Arthur called, grabbing said object from the girl's cubby and handing it to her. "Here you go!~"

"Merci, Mister Kirkland!~" Millie giggled, waving to him before joining her mother at the entrance. "Have a good weekend, too!~"

"Thank you!~" Arthur waved back. "You as well!~"

Arthur sighed softly once the doors were closed, also looking at the mess his room was in. It looked like a tornado had ran across the place, but he didn't mind it that much. The kids he looked after today were happy to play with the toys and art supplies, and that made him happy, too!

"Well, time to clean up, I guess," Arthur told himself, beginning to do just that.

Once everything was put away and disinfected, he grabbed his belongings, clocked out, and made his way home. However, he paused after he had gotten to his car, remembering that he needed to buy some groceries.

"It is only five o'clock," Arthur justified, "so I have time to buy what I need quickly."

After he had arrived at the store, he grabbed a shopping cart and began to walk down the specific aisles he needed things from. Upon entering one of them, he saw a blond-haired man arguing with a blond-haired boy in French. Seeing that they both had blue eyes as well, Arthur came to the conclusion that they were father and son.

I wonder what they're arguing about? he thought with confusion.

Whatever it was, Arthur knew it was bad considering how annoyed the father looked. So, he timidly walked up to them to offer them his help.

"Hello?" he asked calmly, not wanting the situation to escalate even more. "Is something the matter, here?"

"Hm?" the father hummed, only now seeing Arthur standing there. "Oh! Non, Matthieu here is just complaining that he has to stay with my sister for the whole week now that I'm starting work on Monday, and he doesn't want to."

"Because I don't have any friends where she lives, papa!" Matthew replied. "I'll be all by myself!"

"Non, you will have your aunt," the father pointed out. "That's more than some kids your age get, you know."

"Well, I run a daycare," Arthur informed them, "and there are lots of kids there his age. Perhaps he can come on Monday to see if he likes it or not?"

Matthew's eyes instantly widened, and a wide smile formed on his face as well.

"Oh, papa, can we go? Please, please, please?"

"I don't daycare!" the father snapped at Arthur, and the green-eyed blond couldn't help but laugh at his butchered English.

"What about nightcare?~" Arthur teased him.

The father glared at him, and Arthur could see that he had accidentally sent him over the edge.

The audacity this man has! Francis thought with anger. Making fun of my English like this? Ha! I'll show him!

"Like I said, I don't need it!" he concluded firmly, and Arthur realized that the conversation was over with. "Matthieu will be just fine at my sister's house!"

And with that, the father and son walked away from Arthur, leaving him all alone in the baking aisle.

~~~~

That following Monday, as Arthur was taking roll call of the kids who were at the center, there was a sudden knock on the door. Turning his attention towards it, Arthur saw that it was Matthew and his father.

"I know we're late," the father apologized, "but Matthieu wouldn't stop talking about this place."

Arthur smiled happily, clearly glad that he could help another parent in need.

"That's wonderful!~" he replied. "I'll show him arou-"

"And here is all of his stuff," the other man interrupted him, shoving a large bag into his arms. "It includes extra underwear, extra clothes, his sippy cups, his favorite books, and his blanket. He likes to be held at naptime, so I hope that doesn't make your other kids jealous. He also likes to be rocked at naptime, so I hope that your twiggy arms and legs can handle it. Oh, and he only drinks whole milk. I don't trust that one-percent or two-percent crap that the grocery stores are selling now, you know."

"And...can I get your name?" Arthur wondered, looking at the other man with interest. "I need to write it down on the sign-in sheet for today, but I'll have it printed out on the other ones in the future, I promise."

"Ah, right," the other man nodded sheepishly. "I kind of forgot to introduce myself, didn't I?"

"Oh, it's all right!~" Arthur assured him. "I'll go first!~ My name is Arthur Kirkland, and I'll be Matthew's teacher here!~"

"I'm Francis Bonnefoy," the other man replied. "Matthieu's father."

"And I'm Matthieu!~" Matthew giggled.

"Yes, I see that!~" Arthur chuckled. "Say, Matthew, can you go and put your shoes and coat inside your cubby? Your father and I still need to talk about some things."

"Oui!~" Matthew agreed excitedly. "Then can I go and make friends?~"

"Of course~" Arthur smiled at him.

They just met, Francis thought with wonder, and they already hit it off. Perhaps this won't be so bad after all?

"Yay!~" Matthew cheered, hugging Francis' leg tightly as well. "Je t'aime, papa!~"

"Je t'aime, Matthieu." Francis smiled softly, gently patting his son's hair as well.

When Matthew ran off to put his things away, Arthur set down the bag of Matthew's things that Francis had given to him by the sign-in desk so that he could explain some other things to him, like how the monthly bills were sent out.

"Merci," Francis told the other blond. "I know I was upset about this the other night, but I really am thankful for it. I guess I'm just...nervous about this whole single-parent stuff. Ever since my wife and I got into a divorce, things have been...hard for me. We even had to split up our two sons. Matthieu is trying his best to overcome it, I know he is, and I guess that's why he doesn't want to be with my sister right now. It reminds him too much of the divorce."

"I...I'm so sorry, Francis," Arthur apologized softly. "I really am."

"Merci," Francis smiled sadly, "but it's not your fault. Some people never show their true colors until something important happens, so...."

He quickly composed himself, then, wanting to be presentable for his upcoming shift at work.

"Anyway, I'll be here at exactly five o'clock this evening," he informed Arthur, "so I better expect Matthieu to be in his jacket, shoes, and at your side by the door at that time."

"He will, Mister Bonnefoy," Arthur promised him. "He will."

"Good," Francis nodded with approval, opening up the door and once again leaving Arthur by himself. "Au revoir."

Arthur sighed softly, only now realizing how much pressure Francis was putting onto him.

"But I can do this!" he quietly assured himself. "I. Can. Do. This!"

And off to meet his students he went.