November 25, 1938
Today was sort of an average day. Despite all the labor strikes going on right now, I was just doing fine. The bakery was open and Francis actually left me in charge of it while he was out doing errands. I didn't mind all that much, honestly. So far it has been steady. After some time a lady walked in, she was wearing a fur coat, sunglasses, and a hat. Like an average French woman would. "How much are these ?" She Looked into a glass case. "1/2 franc," I answered. She looked at me fast and took off her glasses."That accent of yours. It's cute, non?" She was speaking in English. "My accent?" I asked, confused, still speaking in French. " your French accent, I can tell you are an Englishman. Also, your clothes give it away," she looked down with a smirk. She had been speaking to me in English, odd. "I am English.." I spoke in English. "Cute, now tell me, what brings you here to Paris France," she smiled. She was looking at me like Francis. This is awkward. "Strictly business, ma'am" I smiled.
"How polite, I have heard of such politeness about Englishman but it is cuter in person," she chuckled. "Tell me, what is your name?" She asked. "Arthur, Arthur Kirkland," I smiled. "I like you, Arthur, my name is Lucille," she laughed coming closer to the counter. "Now tell me, what kind of business brings you to work at a bakery?" She asked with a smirk. "Oh, my it's not mine, my friend went out on errands and won't be back till later so I didn't mind watching the store for him," I scratched the back of my neck. She sure had a lot of questions to ask me.
"Maybe you should ditch this place and come hang out with me?" She asked pulling at my collar, so it was closer to her. This was awkward, what do I do? I can't just push her, that is rude. "Oh...you caught my collar; mind letting it go?" I asked trying not to drop my smile. "Aren't you the cutest thing," she smiled. She gripped my collar tighter, and it hurt my neck. "Kiss me," she said coming closer to my face. Oh, snap, what do I do?
"That is enough messing around, Lucille" we both stopped, shocked, lips just so close to touching. That's when it hit me. Lucille was the girl from the picture. His sister. She finally let go of me and turned around swiftly. I had caught myself from the force and saw Francis with crossed arms. "Big brother, I didn't know you would be back anytime soon," she laughed. She had placed her hands on her hips and smiled at him. "You should have called that you would be visiting," he looked at her unamused. He came walking towards me with a bag of things he had purchased. "I wanted to surprise you, plus I saw this cute Englishman here and couldn't help myself."
She turned to me fanning herself. Francis looked at her, and she started to laugh. "You know I am joking brother, I have my own love," she looked at me with a smirk. "By the looks of things here, you have had your fair share of interests as well," she tapped my hand as we followed Francis into the kitchen area. "So brother, I am thinking of moving back to France with ...my lover, with everything going on, we feel that maybe it is best to flee while we can," she looked at Francis sad.
He stopped what he was doing and looked at her. "Why? You love living in Belgium?" Francis turned to her as she put her head down. "Everyone is scared, big brother, we are by one of the borders of Germany; word gets around fast," tears came down her eyes as Francis pulled her in for a hug. "Do you have a place to stay?" He asked concerned. "Yes! I do; I am moving to a rural area in France so that I will be fine. I will come and visit any chance I get," she wiped her face slowly.
"Please be careful, brother. They like targeting people like us," she said the last part quietly, but I understood clearly what she meant. That means that she was....her lover is a woman. "Lucille, Arthur is my...." he paused, and she understood what he was implying. Her face grew happy and she hugged me. "Take care of my big brother, he is a bit of a baby sometimes," her laughter carried throughout the kitchen as Francis shook his head embarrassed. "Okay..." I said nervously. She fixed her hat on her head and turned toward the exit.
"I know this was a short visit, but I couldn't stay long. I promise I will stop by again, big brother," she smiled as she exited the room and into the main bakery room. "Alright, sister, call me when you get to your new home; try not to worry so much. I promise you nothing bad is going to happen. France and England have not intervened yet, which is good news so far," Francis tried to reassure her. Before she turned to the door, she smiled at us one more time before putting her sunglasses on again. "Of course," she smiled soon after she left the store.
"You okay?" Francis looked at me. I guess I did get spooked by what she said. I wonder if other people in Belgium are fleeing the area. "Yes, I am fine," I looked at Francis with a smile. That night, I lay in bed thinking about the future; there were so many things happening at once that not many people could keep up with the time. I looked at the new door in our bedroom and made sure it was locked. I did feel safer with the lock, so it was not as bad as I thought.
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Before The War Starts (FrUK)
Fanfiction1938 France. Arthur meeting the young gentleman Francis, they begin to develop a very confusing relationship for a year. Until the war starts. *edits made*