Chapter Text
Dragging them both round the walmart wasn't exactly the way Alfred Jones would liked to have spent his Sunday afternoon, but life isn't fair. Watching some TV or a movie would have been more relaxing, a nice way to spend the waning hours of the weekend before the turmoil of work the next day. Instead, he was pushing a half-empty shopping cart up and down aisles like any other week, Amelia kicking off every five minutes. Already she'd tried to grab a toy giraffe off one of the shelves in the kids section on their way to find some diapers, and when he put it back and said she didn't need it, the flood gates opened. She wanted a big chocolate-chip cookie; he said no. She screamed. He was used to it though, having dealt with his strong-willed daughter for her two years of life all on his own. All children were prone to tears and tantrums, but the sheer frequency of her episodes had him seriously wondering if she would turn out to be an Alpha like himself.
It wasn't easy being a single parent, but being an Alpha single parent added another dimension to the problems. Finding childcare during work ours is hell for anyone, but without the rights to creche places that Omega and Beta mothers were entitled to meant he had to pay out of his pocket every week day. Why would Alphas ever need such benefits? They weren't the ones having babies. His nature also made it difficult to find parent-child classes or sessions at places like the pool or the library; the Omegas and youngsters may feel threatened by the presence of a strange Alpha, so he wasn't allowed to take part. He couldn't be the only one in this tricky situation, but that didn't stop him from feeling like the entire world was against him.
Amelia was his life, even if she crying and kicking and wailing through the chilled foods section. After all, she was all he had left of his mate. Unfortunately, the dedication of parenthood and the grinding hours of his job left very little room to get back into the dating market. Besides, what sort of Omega would want to bring up someone else's kid? They were nurturing, sure, but only to their own blood; why invest in genetics that aren't your own? It was instinct, he supposed.
He nearly broke down in tears himself when the toddler threw her toy elephant halfway down the aisle. It was a tatty thing by now, chewed and washed countless times. The grey, silky-soft animal had been by her side since she was taken home from hospital only three days old, yet for some reason she loved to abuse it. "Amelia," he groaned, turning to fetch it. He could hear her beginning to fuss as he walked away, and felt the glares coming from a couple of people nearby. Oh what a terrible parent! How could he leave the poor angel like that? They didn't know half the story. Perhaps another reason he hadn't got back into the dating game was because he'd grown into a habit of avoiding people; they only caused trouble, judging without asking and acting without thinking. His next door neighbours even called child services on him once, concerned that he was neglecting his daughter. While the social workers had been satisfied with what they saw, he was placed on a warning list. People took child welfare very seriously these days.
Before he could reach the elephant, someone beat him to it and scooped it off the floor. The hands were pale and slim; beautiful. He straightened up and made eye-contact with the Omega who'd come to his rescue. He wasn't much shorter than himself, and while he appeared on the skinny side there was still a softness about him; freckle-dusted cheeks and dark eyebrows framed lively mossy-green eyes. The Omega smiled and held out the toy. "Here." His voice was smooth and sweet like honey. British. Alfred felt his heart beat a little faster.
"Thanks," he said, smiling back shyly as he took Mr Trunky back. "Thought I was gonna faint if I bent down."
"You do look tired," he replied, frowning a bit. Oh God, that concentrating look's adorable. "And you smell a bit ill."
Lovesick. Go on, say it. Now's your chance! Whoever knew he might find a match while trailing through walmart? But Amelia started wailing louder, demanding his attention, and his opportunity was lost. "Um, thanks again," he said, turning away slowly.
"You're welcome."
He jogged back to the cart where Amelia was kicking up a fuss, and wiggled the cuddly toy in front of her. "Don't worry Baby Girl, Daddy's back. And look! He brought Mr Trunky with him!" After a couple of minutes of playing and making her giggle, someone asked him to move so they could reach the cheese. He gave her back her toy, and carried on with the shopping.
He was zoned out for most of the time, mechanically picking items off the shelves and placing them in the cart. It wasn't until he was loading their stuff onto the conveyor at the checkout that he snapped out of it, when a bright voice said in and English accent, "We have to stop meeting like this."
Alfred grinned and spun round to see the Omega from earlier waiting in line behind him. A second chance? God was indeed gracious. "I dunno, I could happily make a habit of it," he replied, a bit quieter than he usually was. He was used to being scrutinised, to blanking out the rest of the world, but being shy? He hadn't felt this way in a long time. He could feel his cheeks heating up already.
The Omega circled round their cart and came closer. "Then I'd better give you my number." He winked, and scribbled a string of characters on the bottom of Alfred's shopping list. The name read 'Arthur'.