"She likes broccoli? And cauliflower too?!"
Arthur's face contorted into an expression of such pure, unadulterated horror that Kelly burst out laughing.
They were currently hard at work in the kitchen preparing lunch, but ever since Kelly had started listing off Natalia's favorite dishes, Arthur had looked entirely repulsed.
Kelly knew exactly why, almost everything on the menu consisted of the exact vegetables Arthur despised.
"Oh, come on," Kelly teased, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Not everyone hates veges."
"I don't hate vegetables," Arthur countered defensively, crossing his arms. "I just hate cauliflower and anything shaped like a tiny tree. They don't taste like anything, and the texture is just… deeply weird."
Kelly let out a fond sigh. "Well, Natalia loves them. I even sneak cauliflower into her macaroni and cheese." She offered a secret, wicked grin, carefully hiding the fact that she had been doing the exact same thing to Arthur's mac and cheese for years.
Given how he routinely devoured plates of it while praising her culinary genius, Kelly decided it was best to take that secret to her grave. If Arthur ever found out, he would probably boycott pasta for life.
"Really? Cauliflower in pasta? So weird," Arthur muttered. He picked up a loose broccoli stem, turning it over with a look of profound skepticism before shifting his attention back to the massive menu Auntie had written down.
Yeah, of course the list is this long, Arthur thought, scoffing silently. This Natalia person is practically the Queen of England.
Despite his internal grumbling, he diligently helped Kelly chop, stir, and store everything they prepared. He was going to have to eat this food too, after all.
Deep down, he completely understood why Aunt Kelly was being so extra and excited. Natalia had been gone for years, and these were her parents. He wanted to help make her welcome-home meal perfect.
But as the counter filled with dishes, a tiny, ugly spark of jealousy flared in Arthur's chest. He couldn't help but envy the absolute royal treatment Natalia was receiving. He knew she deserved it, but a childish part of him felt pushed to the side.
"Arthur, sweetie," Kelly suddenly called out, hurrying around the stove. "I made your favorite stir-fry too, but I just realized we're completely out of peas. I'm so sorry, dear. Just try it without them this time, okay?"
Arthur froze, staring at Aunt Kelly as she rushed to check on another pot, completely unaware of the impact of her words.
...I'm being so incredibly selfish, Arthur thought, a heavy wave of guilt washing over him. She was thinking about me this whole time. Missing a few peas didn't matter at all as the fact that she had remembered him while managing a feast made his earlier jealousy feel shameful.
"Mom... what's with the mountain of food?"
Arthur flinched at the sound of the low, slightly raspy voice behind him. Natalia stood in the doorway, looking a bit dazed and soft around the edges, clearly still half-asleep from her shower and nap.
"Ah! Natalia!" Kelly gasped breathlessly, immediately shifting into high gear. "I made all of your favorites! I wanted to make sure you had a proper, home-cooked meal. Did you sleep well? Are you thirsty? Do you want a drink first, or should we just dive straight into lunch? Are you-"
"Mom," Natalia cut in gently, stepping forward to catch her mother's frantic hands. The sheer volume of questions made both Arthur and Kelly pause, staring at her.
"I'm not going anywhere," Natalia mumbled, her voice softening as she squeezed her mother's hands reassuringly. "You don't have to get so worked up. I didn't come back just to leave you again, Mom. Don't worry. I'll be right here to eat your cooking every single day. Let's just take it slow, okay?"
Kelly fell into a stunned silence, her eyes shining before she let out a long sigh and nodded.
Seeing the lingering worry in her mother's eyes, Natalia felt another pang of regret. Her mother loved her so deeply. "I'm sorry, Mom," she whispered. "I'll be a better daughter from now on."
Sensing the emotional weight in the room, Natalia let go of her mother's hands, intending to head back to her room to properly freshen up so she could help set the table. But as she turned, she caught a sudden movement out of the corner of her eye.
Someone had just flinched.
Natalia's sharp eyes locked onto Arthur, who was practically trying to curl himself into a ball on one of the dining chairs. He had been blatantly stealing glances at her since she walked in, only to violently snap his head away the second she looked in his direction.
What made it hilarious was the bright, furious crimson flush spreading across his cheeks and ears.
A slow, wicked smirk tugged at the corner of Natalia's lips. She tore her gaze away from the flustered omega, a quiet amusement blooming in her chest.
Cute, she thought.
"Wow! Look at all of this!" Kevin exclaimed a short while later as the family gathered around the table. He immediately began showering Kelly and Arthur with compliments for the impressive spread. "Dig in, everyone!"
As the meal began, Kevin and Kelly exchanged subtle, concerned glances. The atmosphere was a stark contrast to their usual chaotic family dinners.
It was entirely too quiet.
Normally, Arthur would be chattering away without a care in the world, but today, he was dead silent, staring intensely at his plate. They assumed he was just feeling awkward and intimidated by Natalia's presence.
While that was mostly true, Arthur was currently fighting a very specific, childish battle in his mind.
I wanted that chicken drumstick… Hmph! Arthur glared at his rice, mourning the loss of the specific piece of chicken he had been eyeing, which Natalia had casually scooped up moments before.
He wasn't happy about it. For the first time in years, he was realizing what it actually felt like to share his parents' attention and the best pieces of food.
It's fine, it's fine. There's plenty of other food, Arthur scolded himself, quickly realizing how incredibly spoiled and bratty he was being. He didn't want to be that kind of person. He forced himself to take a quiet bite of his stir-fry.
Sensing the suffocating silence, Kevin decided to break the ice. "Arthur, I have to run into town later this afternoon. Is there anything you want me to pick up for you?"
Everyone's eyes instantly shifted to Arthur, whose eyes lit up like stars.
Kevin usually wouldn't have brought up errands at the dinner table, but he desperately missed the loud, lively energy Arthur usually brought to the house.
Without his voice, the dining room felt completely empty. They had become so accustomed to Arthur's bright chatter that the silence felt unnatural. Kevin hoped that by prompting him, Arthur might start opening up and getting comfortable around Natalia.
Right... we need to help them bond, Kevin thought.
"Ice cream?..." Arthur blurted out excitedly, before his brain caught up with his mouth. He instantly remembered Aunt Kelly's strict ban from earlier, and the words died in his throat.
An incredibly guilty, panicked look washed over Arthur's face. Kevin let out a defeated sigh, feeling a mix of pity and amusement. As much as he wanted to spoil the boy, he wasn't about to cross his wife when it came to Arthur's health.
"How about something else? Just for today," Kevin offered gently. "I'll get you ice cream another day when your cough clears up."
Arthur nodded quickly, his mind already racing for an alternative. "Um... I can't really think of anything. Just bring back whatever you want, Uncle," he said, offering a small smile. Kevin nodded, satisfied, and returned to his meal.
"Do you want anything from town, Natalia?" Kevin asked, turning to his daughter.
Arthur's eyes automatically drifted over to Natalia, who was sitting directly across from him next to Kevin. He couldn't help himself; even the simple, precise way she cut her food and ate was somehow... fascinating.
Ugh, why am I being so weird? Who just stares at someone eating? Arthur scolded himself internally. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to look at his own plate, his eyes kept sneaking back to her. Maybe it was just sheer curiosity about this mysterious daughter who had suddenly reappeared in their lives.
"There isn't much I need right now, Dad. Thanks," Natalia replied smoothly.
Of course, Natalia had noticed. She wasn't blind. She could feel the big, dark eyes of the omega trained on her face, tracking her every move in a pathetic attempt at secrecy.
It was so incredibly entertaining that she almost let out a chuckle right there. A sudden, mischievous urge to tease him took over.
Lifting her chin, Natalia stopped cutting her food and raised her eyes, staring right back at him.
Arthur panicked.
Their eyes locked instantly. Natalia felt a thrill of wicked satisfaction as Arthur's eyes widened in sheer terror, his entire face flushing a deep, brilliant red. He looked like a deer caught in headlights, trapped under her gaze.
As she watched him desperately try to look anywhere else, Natalia had to admit it to herself yet again.
He really was incredibly cute.