Arthur sat crisscrossed on the bed, it was way past midnight and the boys were already tucked in bed dreaming of mystical wonders and whatnot. Arthur faced Francis who was uncomfortably fidgeting on the bed. "Francis I think it's time for you to tell me what happened when you left," Arthur said in a demanding tone.

Francis swallowed thickly and built the wall of courage he had been storing up. "Okay.." He nodded and looked down at his lap as he began. "I returned to France and was given a job there, people seemed to be rioting because they were barely getting paid for all their hard work." Arthur listened to every single word that left Francis's lips. "One day someone finally had enough and ambushed the warehouses that belonged to the company. They burned down the buildings with us people still inside.." A shudder ran through his spine as he recollected his horrid memories.

Francis took a shaky breath before continuing. "I ran..but I saw a woman who was stuck under heavy machines. I tried to help but the hysteric people kept pushing and pushing, I couldn't do anything to help!" he trembled violently and wrapped his arms around himself. "That was a reason why I wanted to return, I wanted to help since I couldn't help you or the children, all I did was cause trouble." He hid his face in his hands.

Arthur rested a reassuring hand on Francis's shaking shoulder. "After that, I couldn't find a way to earn money to survive... I...I did so many disgusting things with my body..." Sobs now shook his frail body Arthur felt tears fill his eyes, not wanting to think about how much Francis had suffered. He pulled him into a tight comforting hug and rubbed circles in his back. "It's okay Francis..you're safe now, I promise," Arthur muttered in a soothing voice.

Francis wrapped his arms around Arthur and lied his head against his shoulder letting his tears silently fall from his cheek, his warm breath tickled Arthur's neck sending shivers down his spine. "Francis, thank you for telling me," Arthur said in a glum tone not feeling relieved until he was certain Francis was alright. Time passed and both men still held onto each other fearing that once they let go they would never see each other again.

Francis had eventually drifted off to sleep and Arthur was beginning to doze off, with great ease he lied Francis down on the bed and lied next to him facing his sleeping and calm face. He slightly smiled to himself and moved the strands of blonde hair that covered his face. "I see now, you felt guilty after you realized all the damage you were doing to our family." He sighed and continued to stroke his hair.

"You didn't have to leave.." He trailed off instantly knowing that he could've stopped Francis from leaving, his chest ached because he knew he could've made up his mind and answer all the calls, he could've listened to Francis instead of completely cutting him off, he could've stopped Francis from getting hurt. In Francis's point of view, he was trying to find a way to help instead of hurt.

So when he made the decision of returning from where he came he needed to stay as far away from the family he hurt, Francis wanted to reprove himself. He wanted to become someone who spread love, not hate or fear, he wanted to help instead of hurt. The place he went didn't only just fix all those things, it made him the product of what he once had. All the hatred, fear, and pain was now scarred onto his body and soul, the little voice in his head reminding him that this is what his family had gone through.

The result of that was a broken man who understood everything now. And amongst that his heart and mind filled with desperation, he wanted to show his family that he was changed for their sake, that he was different. Now there Francis laid in the bed beside his lover, his eyes shut, his cheeks flushed pink with tear stains, and his heart light with no trace of pain or fear. Arthur sighed once again allowing himself to fully forgive Francis and wanting to love him all over again, to hold and kiss him, to hug and cuddle, to always stay by his side.

With a soft happy smile, he placed a kiss on his forehead before throwing the blanket over them and drifting off to a comfortable bliss keeping a tight hold on Francis's hand.

When morning arrived the sleeping couple was awoken by tiny feet patterning outside in the halls, Arthur chuckled and sat up with a stretch letting go of Francis' hand in the process. Francis yawned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, fear tackled his heart at first not being able to recognize the room, thinking that maybe he was back 'there' again, sleeping beside another whore of a man or woman. He quickly sat up and breathed a shaky sigh of relief when he spotted Arthur with sleepy green eyes staring into his own.

Francis smiled and instantly hugged him. "Thank god.." He mumbled quietly. "Good morning Francis, the boys are up. How about I make breakfast?" Arthur ran his hand through Francis's hair. "If it's okay maybe...I can cook?" Francis looked at Arthur with pleading sapphire eyes. "Alright, I'll allow you to." He smiled and kissed his nose. "Let's go I bet the boys are excited to spend time with you again," Arthur stated eagerly.

Francis smiled happily and absentmindedly pinched his arm leaving an angry red painful looking mark on his arm, he winced at the sudden pain but still held his happy smile, because he knew that he wasn't dreaming this time. It was all real. Arthur took notice of Francis's silence and glanced over at him just in time to see him pinch himself. "What are you doing!? You're really going to get hurt, please stop." He grabbed ahold of Francis' hand and placed a kiss on the self-inflicted wound.

Francis chuckled. "Thank you mon cher." Arthur pulled away and stumbled out of bed with the extracts of sleep still muddled in his mind, Francis smiled and climbed out of the bed walking behind Arthur. "Arthur I..I want to be a part of your life again, I want to be able to watch the children grow and become strong." Francis trailed off and grabbed his hand.

Arthur turned to meet his eyes. "Then today is the day to prove yourself. Today is a new day, and you are a new you." Arthur's words hit Francis's heart like a bullet, so much meaning and hope covered the sentences that rolled off his soft looking pink lips. "Yes because the Francis that hurt is now dead, I want to be the Francis that helps and does good." Francis placed a kiss on Arthur's lips only to be interrupted by quiet giggles.

The couple pulled away and turned toward the shrill laughter, both Alfred and Matthew were peeking at their parents. Francis and Arthur blushed in embarrassment. "Daddy and papa kissed!" Matthew exclaimed. "Eww!" Alfred stuck his tongue out in mock disgust. "Sorry you had to see that boys, but let's go to the kitchen. Your daddy allowed me to cook today." Francis crouched down to the children's height with a kind smile on his face.

Matthew and Alfred cheered happily. "I wonder what papa's food is like." Alfred smiled. "It might not be as good as daddy's." Francis laughed quietly, Arthur smiled at the sight being able to see a future with his family. He saw the boys, growing up to be strong young men, and Francis slowly getting back to his old self. But that future was so far away almost impossible to reach.

Arthur shook his head and led the boys and Francis to the kitchen, he sat on the table and gave Francis access to the refrigerator and what not to cook. The boys giggled happily to themselves and would constantly glance at their parents before whispering into each other's ears, Arthur smiled wondering what they were talking about until his smile was replaced with a look of concern.

Francis was midway into cooking, a pink apron wrapped around his body when he suddenly broke into a coughing fit. He turned away from the stove and leaned against the counter gasping for breath, Arthur was instantly by his side grabbing ahold of his arm fearing that he would fall over. He forced Francis to look at him and rested his hand against his flushed cheek. "Francis..how long have you been sick?" he asked worriedly.

Francis looked at Arthur guiltily. "It's only been for a couple of days..I'm sure it's just a cough, it'll go away soon." He assured and got back to cooking causing Arthur's hand to slip away from his cheek. Both boys quietly observed the current scene with worried looks on their faces. "Papa is sick." Matthew whimpered quietly. "N-no! He's okay, dad said papa is strong remember?" Alfred smiled trying to distract his brother from his worries.

Matthew thought for a moment before his eyes lit up. "Yeah, you're right!" he exclaimed, Alfred, smiled and sighed in relief. Soon enough breakfast was served, plates of egg and slices of ham with biscuits on the side were served along with cups of juice for the children and a cup of tea for Arthur. Francis sat beside him with a mug of French vanilla cappuccino wrapped in his pale hands. "Are you not going going to eat Francis?" Arthur asked. "I'm fine, I don't have much of an appetite," Francis stated with a tired looking smile which worried Arthur greatly.

After breakfast, Francis volunteered to clear the table and wash all the dishes refusing any help from Arthur. Around early noon he and Arthur joined the boys outside where he willingly played with his children and did everything that they asked for, Arthur sat under a tree, he could see how exhausted Francis was, he could see the pain behind his smile. He was surprised to see Francis playing tag with the boys, he was running, how was he holding up so much?

He half expected to see Francis collapse, but he never did. Instead, he fell to his knees with a laugh as both boys tackled him to the ground. "Papa, it's almost nap time for Mattie." Alfred yawned. "Oh? How about you?" Francis ruffled his hair. "I'm not sleepy." Alfred slurred. "Heroes never sleep." He continued on. "Let's go to your dad okay?" Francis scooped up both boys and trudged toward Arthur who was currently reading a book.

Francis smiled at the sight and sat beside him before lying down and resting his head on his lap, the boys were on Francis' side their heads on his stomach both holding hands and tiredly dozing off. Arthur put down his book, his heart fluttered, it was a sight, a sight he instantly loved. "I'm so happy I could spend such a wonderful day with you and the children...I'll help as much as I can..do as much as I can," Francis stated, Arthur, frowned finally realizing why Francis looked so worn.

He ran his hand through his hair. "Francis you don't have to push yourself so hard." He explained. "I have to, how else can I repay all the things I've missed?" desperation filled his weak voice. "I..I have to do something, something useful and help you, I love you and the children, I have to show it I ha-" Arthur cut him off with a kiss, he pulled away and stared into Francis' sapphire eyes. "You're already doing all that just by being here." He smiled.

Francis smiled back at him staring lovingly at Arthur. "Thank you, love." His eyes drooped tiredly, sweat trickled from his forehead and down his neck. "You're ill Francis..you did so much today, take a good rest." Arthur placed a kiss on his warm forehead and leaned against the trunk of the tree, the sun was up, a light breeze blew comfortably, and the perfect amount of shade was given.

Arthur quietly hummed as he stroked Francis' hair, the boys mumbled in their sleep, Francis had soon fallen asleep with his hand taking hold of Arthur's own. Arthur smiled as joy and happiness twinkled in his eyes, seeing his family together again made his chest swell. He sighed lovingly. "My family...what in the world did I ever do to deserve this?"