Happy 4th everyone! :>)

Letting out a yawn, Laff shook his head slightly as he pushed a rusted shopping cart along with his list in his hand. The soft chatter of those around provided a calm sense of tranquility as Laff slowly walked down the aisle.

He didn't notice he was walking straight into someone else's cart until after the impact.

Laff jolted, looking at the woman's cart he struck "Oh-! My apologies Miss, I wasn't paying any attention.." The lady giggled softly and waved "Oh it's no trouble-!"

Laff laughed nervously and moved out of the lady's way, walking away. He sighed softly and rubbed his head -Good lord I'm a mess..-

Babbling and cooing snapped him out of his train of thought, glancing down at Nadwe who was in a sling across his chest.

"Oh I'm sorry mate, did your pop wake you?"

Nadwe babbled and looked up at Laff as he chuckled softly. "Your pop can't keep his eyes on the road can he? Thank god we aren't in a car or we'd all be in big trouble." He gently rubbed Nadwes head as he kept walking. "Well, since you were such a good boy for Tb and Oof, I'll get you a treat. You do need some toys anyhow once you are old enough to sit up.."

He turned the corner as his phone rang. He took it out of his pocket and answered without checking the ID; " 'ello mate??"

"Laff?? Is this a bad time???"

Chuckling softly, Laff shook his head as he looked through an assortment of boxed pasta meals "No Joocie it isn't. What do you need, Lad?"

Messing with the strings on his hoodie, Joocie huffed quietly "I-I know it's silly but...well Me and Tbh are going out next week.-" Laff's eyes lit up as he smiled "Ay mate! See I told ya he would come around!" Joocie responded with soft laughter at the other end and nodded softly "yeah...but um...what if I mess something up..?"

Laff grabbed some pasta salad boxes and tossed them in the cart "Oh mate don't you worry about that! If Tbh loves ya that much he still loves you if you make a mistake."

Joocie's eyes lit up a bit "really..?"

Laff nods "Of course mate! He'd better if he really cares about you."

"Oh thank you for letting me talk Laff, I didn't want to drag anyone else into my nonsense."

"Mate relax, you know we are happy to help."

"Alright, bye Laff."

Laff nodded and hung up, putting his phone back. He started moving again as he glanced around "Hm, grains are a few aisles down...i should pick up some rice and-"

Without knowing he ran into another cart. "Op-! Sorry mate I-" he looked at who it was and it was the woman from earlier.

The woman giggled "A bunch of klutz we are, huh?"

Laff chuckled nervously and scratched his head. "Ah it is my fault mate, don't pay attention to where I'm going." The woman giggled and waved, taking her cart and walking the other way.

He managed to get a better look at her. She had an espresso skin tone with white skin patches over her face and arms; the cause of Vitiligo, and fluffy black hair pulled in a ponytail. He couldn't help but believe he had seen her from somewhere…

Laff was brought out of his deep thoughts as he got another phone call. He pulled his phone out again and answered " 'Ello!?"

"LAFF!? LAFF I NEED HELP!!"

He was shocked and almost dropped his phone as he grabbed his phone again "M-Meme Mate calm down calm down what's wrong!?"

Frantic panting was heard on the other end as Meme continued "I-I brought my high school diploma with us on our trip because i was expecting the dean of the medical school I go to to drop by at our hotel room today and i checked my suitcase, I checked the car, I even checked Socks helmet and I CAN'T FIND IT AND I'M FREAKING OUT AND AND-!!"

"MEME TAKE A BREATHER BEFORE YOU PASS OUT-!"

Hearing the other take a few, deep breaths in a paper bag, Laff recomposed himself and asked "Have you tried your hotel rooms safe?"

He was met with silence.

"...Hang on"

Meme quickly set down his phone and walked to the small closet that held his and Sock's suitcases and a small deadbolt safe. Inputting the code, Meme turned the handle and opened the door.

He then quickly walked back to his phone and picked it up "It was in the safe!"

Laff chuckled softly "I figured lad."

"Thank you Laff!" Meme then hung up without letting Laff say goodbye. Laff chuckled quietly and shook his head, going to put his phone away.

Nadwe noticed Laff's phone and let out a squeak, reaching for it as Laff noticed.

He chuckled softly and handed his phone over "Alright son, you can be in charge of holding my phone." Nadwe held Laff's phone which was nearly a fourth of his size. He looked at the screen, babbling as he didn't really comprehend he could see his own face.

Laff chuckled quietly and kept walking.

He strolled through the rest of the grocery store before going to the baby section. He looked at the selection of toys and security blankets as Nadwe turned his phone around in his hands.

"Hm...why are there different versions of essentially the same thing…? I mean look here- there's one of a dog, cat, cow, deer, bear, and a monster-? These are all virtually the same but with a different animal-! What's the difference-?"

Laff grabbed the dog security blanket and handed it to Nadwe, who looked at it curiously and glanced at the selection.

He whined and reached for the deer.

"...Alright then mate I'll get yous the deer." He put the dog back and picked up the deer, placing it in the cart. Nadwe babbles and taps his hands on the phone. Laff chuckled quietly and started walking. His cart ran into, again, the same woman from before.

The two stared at each other before Laff chuckled softly "Mate, maybe lord wants us to introduce one another if I'm gonna run into yous this often." The woman giggled and nodded "I suppose so-!"

Laff chuckled and held out his hand "Names Laff miss."

The woman took his hand and shook it, smiling "Wictoria."

Laff tilted his head "Victoria is it?" Wictoria shook her head "Oh no no, Wictoria; with a "W", it is a little strange I know." She giggled. Laff chuckled "Oh please, I know a group of lads who have names as strange and unique as yours. So you're perfectly fine."

Wictoria giggled and noticed Nadwe in the sling. She gasped softly and squealed quietly "Ohhhh I didn't notice-! You're a father?"

Laff nodded and rubbed Nadwes head "Yep, my adopted son. His name is Nadwe."

Wictoria smiled warmly "Awww, are you sure he's not yours? He looks so much like you!" She giggles and reaches over "Well hi baby!"

Laff flinched away, with good reason as he put his arms around Nadwe "W-Whoa Woah m-mate-!" He stopped and sighed softly, relaxing "I-Im sorry, just a little nervous I suppose.." He looked away "I never really let anyone other than my friends hold him so.."

Waving her hands, Wictoria smiled brightly "Oh hey it's okay-! I'm sorry to have overstepped your boundaries!"

Laff smiled slightly at her response, relaxing a bit "Well, miss, if you'd like...maybe we could grab a cup of joe sometime-?" Looking at him, Wictoria looked surprised before smiling warmly "Oh-Of course! I would love that! In fact.." She reached in her purse and pulled out a business card; handing it over "This has my work and personal number so feel free to text me when you're ready!"

Laff smiled and took the card "Of course-!"

Wictoria smiled and waved before leaving with her cart.

Laff smiled softly and chuckled, tucking the card away in his shirt pocket. "What a lovely young lady." Nadwe squealed quietly from the sling as he was sucking on Laff's phone. Laff glanced down and took his phone back. "Ah ah, no son, a phone is not for eating." He wiped it off "You can suck on your security blanket after I pay for it." He turned it on to check his notifications.

There were three missed calls from Superintendent Chamlers.

He puffed his cheeks out before sighing heavily. -Oh balls my ass is gonna get walloped tomorrow…-

(Hey fun fact. Dhampir; or half vampires, could control animals. Huh, imagine that 🤔).