A Teacher's Heart

Chapter Six

"So you actually went on a date with him?~"

"For the last time, it wasn't a date!" Arthur huffed, looking at his best friends with annoyance as well. "A date is when two people spend time together alone! Francis and I had spent the entire day with the kids, so it wasn't a date!"

"But you two had moments where you were alone, right?~" Gilbert smirked. "So that makes it partly a date, then!~"

"It wasn't a date!" Arthur argued, clearly fed up with his roommates' antics. "Besides, he's divorced remember? It would be inappropriate for me to date him, especially since I'm his son's caretaker during the day."

"Then why are you getting so defensive?~" Antonio teased the blond, putting his chin on his hand as well.

"Aaawww!~" Gilbert cooed. "Does Artie have a little crush?~"

"I'm proud of you for putting yourself out there, Arthur!~" Antonio added. "Especially after what happened with you-know-who!~"

"Oh, for Heaven's sake," Arthur rolled his eyes, turning his attention towards the kitchen. "I'm going to make dinner."

Antonio and Gilbert looked at each other, immediately realizing why Arthur was so distressed.

"I'm sorry," Antonio apologized quietly, standing next to Arthur as well. "I shouldn't have brought...him up."

"It's...fine, I guess," Arthur shrugged, opening up his cookbook as well. "I haven't let him control my life recently, so it's okay. However, I guess I'm still a little scared to fall in love again...."

"And that's completely understandable," Gilbert assured him, standing on his other side. "We won't make any more jokes, promise."

"Thanks." Arthur smiled, also pointing to the meal he had picked out. "Now, who's hungry?"

~~~~

Francis woke up with a jolt, panting heavily as well while a cold sweat formed on his skin.

"Not again...." he groaned softly, rubbing his face with his hands in an attempt to calm down.

This was a reoccurring nightmare he had been having since Olivia had last taken care of the boys all by herself. Francis stood up to check on Matthew, and sure enough, the small boy was fast asleep inside his bedroom.

So their death never happened after all, Francis thought with relief. He's right here, safe and sound.

It seemed like Arthur wasn't the only one living in the past, since Francis could still remember getting the call at work from a police officer. Olivia had overshot a street light right after it had turned red, and as she slammed on the breaks, she was rear-ended by another car behind her.

While Alfred and Matthew were sitting in the back seats.

It was a miracle that they had survived, for they should have died that day, the police officers and divorce court judge thought.

Francis shuddered at the memory. That was the last straw for him, as Olivia had proved once again that she couldn't be trusted around their children. She had pleaded with him that it was an accident, and maybe it was, but Francis wouldn't have it.

He had to end things, and he had to end them fast, which ultimately led to their current divorce.

And even though Francis didn't get custody of both of his sons like he had wanted, he was thankful that he had at least gotten Matthew back.

The little boy was practically his shadow.

It's all for the best, maybe, Francis thought with a hint of sadness. Alfred can sometimes be a bad influence on him, anyway.

~~~~

When Francis came to pick up Matthew the next day, he suddenly stopped the green-eyed blond from walking away from him.

"So, I've been meaning to ask you something," Francis told Arthur abruptly, not even knowing why he was saying these things. "Are you by any chance related to an Olivia Kirkland?"

Arthur raised a brow, and Matthew looked up at Francis as well, both of them clearly just as confused by the question as Francis himself.

"Uh...not that I know of," he answered honestly. "Why?"

"Well, you two just have the same last name," Francis explained awkwardly, "so I figured that you must be related."

"Well, 'Kirkland' is a pretty common surname around here, ha, ha!~" Arthur chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood.

"Oui, I suppose you're right." Francis smiled weakly, still unconvinced by Arthur's reply.

"And you aren't related to a Francois Bonnefoy by any chance, are you?" Arthur wondered, and Francis could see that he was a little nervous in asking the question.

He looks scared, Francis thought with an unknown concern. Did he and this Francois have a bad relationship or something?

"Non, not that I know of," Francis replied. "Being a jerk doesn't run in my family~"

Arthur smiled at the joke, thankful for Francis' own attempt to cheer him up.

"I'm glad to hear it~"

Francis felt his smile widen, as well as a warm feeling swell up inside his chest.

What is this strange sensation that I'm experiencing right now? he thought with confusion. I've never felt it before!

"Well, Matthieu and I should get home," Francis announced, breaking himself out of his own thoughts. "We'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course," Arthur nodded, waving goodbye to Francis and Matthew as well. "See you tomorrow."

He asks me the strangest things sometimes, he thought with wonder. And Olivia is such an odd name to say out of the blue like that. Is she possibly his ex?

~~~~

"Why did you ask Arthur about maman, papa?" Matthew wondered, still as confused as before. "Do you like him, or something?"

"What?" Francis replied, confused. "Non, of course not! I just wanted to make sure they weren't related, that's all! It was a completely normal question!"

"Oh...." Matthew frowned, secretly disappointed that his father didn't like Arthur as much as he did. "Do you think you will ever like him, though?"

"I don't know," Francis shrugged. "Probably in a few years, I guess?"

"That's a long time," Matthew pointed out.

"Well, you don't become friends with people right away, you know," Francis told him. "That's not how us humans work. We need time to adjust to new things, or new people, especially since we don't understand everything about it or them. It's all a normal part of life."

"Like me meeting my new friends at daycare?" Matthew asked him.

"Oui, just like that," Francis nodded. "All of you didn't become friends on your first day, did you?"

"Non," Matthew shook his head. "We didn't."

"So it's the same thing with Arthur and I," Francis explained. "But don't worry. We'll get used to each other soon. I have no doubt about it."

"Me either!~" Matthew agreed happily. "Because I really like him, papa!~"

"I'm glad." Francis smiled, ruffling Matthew's hair as well and secretly remembering how much fun he had with Arthur at the Aquarium. "I suppose he isn't so bad after all."