"Alfred are you ready to go?" Dom asked as he waited by the front door sadly waiting to leave.
"Yes, yes, just give me a moment, this suitcase is heavier than I expected it to be." Alfred chuckled.
"Look who's disregarding the doctor's orders so earlier?" Dom asked.
"What part of don't stress yourself unnecessarily and don't carry heavy things didn't you hear?" Dom chided as he quickly grabbed Alfred's suitcase from him.
"Oh, I am sorry, I really did not mean to do that, it's just that, I'm not used to being so limited." Alfred laughed sheepishly.
"Well you won't need to not be used to that if you keep on carrying things you're not supposed to." Dom said closing the boot of his car.
"Is that all?" he asked.
"Yes, that is all." Alfred replied.
"Alright, let me help you." Dom said as he opened the car door for him. Alfred was about to say that he did not need any assistance, but he took one look at the stern expression on Dom's face and he decided to keep shut.
"I'll be right back, I forgot my wallet in my office and my car is almost out of gas." Dom explained as Alfred nodded and he rushed back into the house.
He walked up the stairs to his bedroom when he remembered that he had not taken his wallet out with him today.
He walked out of his bedroom only to see Natasha walking down the stairs and he frowned.
"Where's Joy?" he asked, he had not seen her since he had arrived and now he was about to leave again.
"She's watching videos on my laptop in my office." Natasha replied looking up at him.
"I see..." he said, he wanted to go and give her a quick hug before leaving.
"I know what you're thinking and don't, just go already, the sooner you leave the sooner you'll return." she said to him.
"That's not what I was thinking." he laughed sheepishly, was his face that readable? No, he doubted that, Natasha must have just had a lucky guess.
"Mhmm, right, you better stop keeping Alfred waiting." she said.
"Alright fine." Dom frowned, he really was annoyed with Lulu this time, every other time he just overlooked her naughtiness, but not this time. He was so hungry.
Dom walked down the stairs out the door and into his car.
"Did you get your wallet?" Alfred asked as Dom put on Alfred's seatbelt and his as well.
"Yes I did." Dom replied.
"Let's go." Dom said as he started the car and drove out of the driveway.
"So Alfred, are you going to tell me why you didn't tell us you were feeling some strange pains?" Dom asked.
"Well... the thing is, I didn't want you all to worry, and I especially did not want this to happen." Alfred sighed.
"This? As in what?" Dom asked.
"As in me leaving my duties and being forced to rest." Alfred said.
"Alfred, seriously, we all know you are a workaholic, but even workaholic's need rest, your body needs rest, especially in your golden years." Dom said as Alfred laughed.
"What's so funny?" Dom asked.
"You're the first person today who has referred to my age as my golden years." he laughed.
"Well it's true isn't it? You're not old and weak, far from it, you're even more strong now than before, sure you just need to take some extra precautions, but asides from that you don't have to worry about unnecessary stress, you're mind is no longer racing with thoughts of how to keep your family alive." Dom said.
"You have already gone through all of that in your younger years, now is the time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour." Dom said.
"I really like the way you put it Dominic." Alfred smiled as Dom turned to him and smiled.
"You know, I grew up with you, watched you grow older as I also matured, you're like a third father to me, and I say that because you know grandfather is my first father followed by my dad, and then it's you." Dom laughed.
"Yes, that is true, the master was much more involved than Ernest was." Alfred laughed.
"True, true, but looking back, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way, you three and my lovely grandmother and mother shaped my childhood and those of everyone else as well, I'm sure if you asked them, they would say the same thing."
"We all care for you much more than you know, which is why we want you to rest and recover so you can be back to your full strength in no time." Dom smiled.
"So a few days of not working won't kill you, but a few hours of overworking will." Dom said.
"I like the way you put it." Alfred smiled.
"And I like the way you look like you're actually going to give this rest and relaxation thing a try." Dom said as Alfred laughed.
"True, true, I might." Alfred joked at Dom looked at him.
"I'm joking, I will rest, besides, I doubt that the master Ernest and Margret would allow me lift a finger at all." he said.
"And that's why I am happy that you're going to be with them, with family that will take care of you much better than Natasha and I can." Dom said.
"You don't have to make it sound like you and Natasha are not good people, you have to work, build your family and grow, it's just a normal stage of life that only happens once." Alfred said as Dom nodded.
"I'm glad you understand Alfred." Dom smiled.
"Of course I do." Alfred smiled.
"Forgive me for being nosy, but I've noticed that lately you and Natasha have been doing really well." he said.
"Yes, we have, is it that obvious?" Dom asked.
"Please, when you two are not on good terms, the entire house shakes." he said as Dom laughed.
"I guess we do." he admitted.
"It's just nice to see you both get along, it makes Joy happier, which in turn makes the rest of us happy as well." he said.
"I noticed that as well." Dom sighed.
"I just hope that it lasts long." Dom said.
"We all hope so as well." Alfred replied.
...
Dom pulled into the driveway of Ernest's house where a welcoming party seemed to have been awaiting his arrival.
"Oh Alfred, you poor thing, how are you doing?" Margaret asked giving Alfred a soft hug and a quick kiss on the cheek as soon as he got out of the car.
"Margaret, I am doing alright, just a little bit sore, but still alright." Alfred laughed.
"Stop suffocating the man Margaret, he just pulled a muscle not broke a bone." Ernest Jr said as Margaret scoffed at him.
"You should have been more careful Alfred, what if something more dangerous had happened?" he proceeded to scold.
"Oh don't be mean Ernie." Margaret scolded him in return.
"Oh how wonderful, it's so nice to finally have an accomplice." Ernest said clapping his hands as they all turned to look at him.
"Alfred, my old friend, you were part of the many people scolding me for hiding the days I feel bad and yet you do the same thing." Ernest laughed.
"Well that is true, because undeniably birds of the same feather flock together." Dom replied as his father stifled a laugh.
"You be quiet there boy before I make you quiet." Ernest said narrowing his eyes at Dom who just laughed.
"Anyway, welcome home, don't worry, we'll all take care of you very well over here." Ernest said as Alfred smiled.
"I know you all will." he smiled.
"Come, come, I made your favourite for dinner so you feel better." Margaret smiled.
"Mhmm, I can't wait."
"What about you Dominic? Are you going to stay for dinner?" Margaret asked as she turned to him.
"I would love to, but I can't it's a long way back home and I want to see Joy before she falls asleep, I haven't seen her all day." Dom said.
"Aww, how unfortunate, but I understand, drive safe, and make sure to give Joy a greeting from us all." she said.
"Don't worry, I will. Take care Alfred, and make sure you rest." Dom said.
"You don't even have to tell him to, we will make sure he rests." Ernest Jr said.
"Yes, yes, we will, and before you go, it's summer, I'm sure Joy is on holiday, why don't you bring her over here for a while?" Ernest asked.
"Umm, we'll discuss that later grandfather, I will call you." Dom replied.
"You say that now but you will never call me." Ernest replied.
"No, I'm serious this time, I will call you, I promise." Dom laughed.
"Oh you better, greet my great granddaughter for me." Ernest smiled.
"I will." Dom smiled as he got into his car and drove away.
"Come old friend, you need some of Margaret's delicious food." Ernest said tapping Alfred on his back as Margaret laughed and they all entered his house.