Baby I wasn't there

Clarence

"Honey, run out and get some peppers for me." Helen said, adding spices into the pot in front of her. Alastor nodded, walking past her, kissing her cheek before exiting out of the back door of the kitchen.

The walk to the store wasn't long, in fact, it only took him fifteen minutes to get there. Crossing streets, waving to people, saying hello. The neighborhood was where he had grown up. This was what he knew.

When he walked into the store, he saw people everywhere, isles filled with running children and stressed parents. He knew the store like the back of his hand, so navigating the peppers wasn't difficult for him to do. He grabbed around six, knowing his mother liked keeping extra for future use.

"Why don't we get some fresh eggs? It might taste better that way."

That voice.

He hears her, and it doesn't take him long before he's rounding the corner and there she is. She's with a child, and he's small, his hand clinging to the fabric of her dress, which is long.

"I don't know if momma would be happy though..." He muttered.

'Well this is quite unprecedented.' Alastor thought, making his way over to the two.

"Well, I never thought I'd see you on this side of town." Alastor says, and Y/n doesn't even turn around to face him. It hurts. Alastor ignores it. The child next to her cranes his neck to see Alastor and smiles.

"You sound like that funny guy on the radio." The child says quietly, and Alastor smiles brightly.

"Well I'm glad you know who I am." Alastor smiles to him, and the child's face is one of shock, his eyes wide and a large grin on his face.

"Do you know him?" The child says to Y/n tugging on her dress. She sighs and finally looks over her shoulder, giving a glare to Alastor.

"Yes, I suppose I have an idea." She said, before turning away again to look at the eggs.

"Suppose? Oh please!" Alastor says, growing impatient. He steps closer to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, ignoring the way she tenses quickly.

"Alastor please, get off." She says sternly. He ignores her.

"Why don't I help here? What eggs do you want, hm?" He asks, looking at the child. He points to the eggs on the top shelf, far too high for Y/n to reach. 'Now it makes sense.' Alastor says, noticing they're up there for a reason. They're going to be thrown away if no one buys them. Alastor reaches and grabs the carton of eggs with ease, before handing it to Y/n.

"Thank you sir!" The child says smiling brightly. He looks at the eggs excitedly, before running down the isle toward the register.

"You didn't need to do that." Y/n said quietly, looking down. Alastor fought the frown trying to come to his expression, instead letting his smile drop a bit.

" I want to talk." He said, before Y/n shrugged his arm off, walking after the child. Alastor followed, bag of peppers in his hand being held onto for dear life. "Please Y/n. Let me explain." Alastor said, but she kept walking. Finally she stopped, almost in the middle of the aisle now. Alastor walked closer to her, taking the chance to speak her to, for her to hear him.

"What is it? Is there really anything to explain?" She asked, before Alastor felt his heart ache. He didn't like doing this. He was never a romantic man, and yet here he was. Ironic.

"Yes, there is. So much," He said, fixing her hair. " Just let me explain, please." He said, pleading with her. She was quiet for a moment, before sighing.