A/N: yay new chapter! 😁

It was late at night, Alfred awoke with a strangled cry calling for his brother, Arthur who slept beside him jolted awake and immediately calmed Alfred down. "It's okay Alfred." He whispered to his son and pulled him back down to a lying down position wrapping his arms around his thin, almost breakable, figure.

Alfred took a shaky breath. "Where's Mattie?" he asked anxiously. "He's fine Alfred I promise you he's safe, he's safely tucked in your papa's arms," Arthur reassured his anxious son. "Can I see?" Alfred asked quietly, Arthur nodded knowing well just how terrified Alfred still was. Alfred sat up and carefully looked over at his papa who encased a sound asleep Matthew in his arms, in response Alfred let out a long relieved sigh and lied down curling against his father who once again held him.

Arthur hugged Alfred tight and ran his hand through his hair his fingers going through the short blonde locks, Alfred yawned feeling sleep begin to take over him once again, with the comforting feeling of his father's fingers running through his scalp and the reassurance of his brother's safety he smiled and drifted off not caring about the future, just focusing on getting some rest that was well needed for him and his family.

Once again it was a late night with the sky about to light up with the incoming sun when Alfred awoke again, he was startled to see his brother awake sitting up with tired eyes. "Alfie we have to clean." He started and began to climb off the bed, Alfred quickly but carefully scrambled off the bed to retrieve his brother. "Matthew." He took his hands. "We're not going to clean anymore, he's not coming," Alfred explained to him.

Matthew looked at his brother his eyes were glazed over. "He's..." He trailed off and suddenly remembered where he was. "Oh." He mumbled. "We're not there anymore Matthew, we're safe." Alfred smiled and tugged him back to the bed. "Get some sleep okay? Papa will have nightmares without you." Alfred led his brother back to the bed and helped him climb back on, Matthew climbed back into Francis's arms and sighed in relief cuddling against his warm chest lulling to sleep by the steady heartbeat of his papa.

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Arthur awoke with a start, Alfred shifted uncomfortably in his arms, his face twisted in discomfort, his teeth were gritted and his hands were balled up into tight fists, the sun shone through the blinds lighting up the room. "Shhh..." Arthur stroked his hair to get him to calm down. "Calm down Alfred you're okay." He whispered.

As a response, Alfred leaned against his father's touch a shaky breath escaping his lips. Arthur sighed and slowly pulled away wanting to go to the kitchen to make his children breakfast, with the help of Francis of course, but Alfred felt him shift and immediately jolted awake. He sat up desperately searching for something. "Mattie..." He whispered. "Don't hurt him." His voice broke. "Alfred look at me." Arthur quietly demanded in a soothing tone. "Remember where you are, you're safe now." Arthur sighed.

His children were traumatized, and emotionally and physically damaged beyond repair. There were definitely some scars left on their skin and mind, he softly stroked Alfred's cheek with the back of his hand too afraid to make sudden movements fearing that he would startle the jumpy boy who trembled in front of him, his heart ached, his mind demanding to hold Alfred in his arms, to calm him, to promise that everything was going to be okay. But Alfred had quickly recollected himself and took deep breaths calming himself down enough to stop his trembling.

He reached for his father's hand taking hold of it and giving it a light squeeze, Arthur didn't mind it, he understood what Alfred was doing. "I'm here, we're all here." He reassured him with a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah..." Alfred sighed. "I'm glad." He returned the smile and looked over his shoulder. Francis's eyes fluttered open, he emitted a long yawn and ever so slowly sat up being very careful not to wake the sleeping boy in his arms. "Good morning love." Arthur smiled once more.

He missed Francis's eyes. "Morning amour," Francis replied with a lousy smile, his hair stuck out in some places and his accent was thicker with the hint of sleepiness in his voice. God Arthur loved this man so much he loved his children so much too, more than his own life. When that man had hit Francis it was the final straw, first, he hurt his children, Arthur never felt so useless in his life. And then Francis, the person he promised to protect, the person who he mistook as a bad guy, the person he grew to love...

Arthur quickly had to clear his mind, he definitely did not want to lose himself in his rage, Alfred crawled over to Francis and wrapped his thin arms around him pressing his uninjured cheek against his shoulder. "Morning to you too love." Francis chuckled and kissed the top of his son's head. Alfred smiled and looked down at his sleeping brother, the bandages wrapped around his bruised body made him look like a mummy, though Alfred was the same it really didn't bother him as much.

"Dad, why do we have to wrap the bruises?" Alfred asked curiously picking at his wrapped arm where the bruises were more severe. "To stop the swelling, you and Matthew have delicate skin so it can be very harmful to you two if you don't properly tend to them," Arthur explained gathering his information from what the doctor's had told him. "I look like a mummy though." Alfred giggled.

Arthur grinned. "A very cute mummy." He stated and Francis agreed with him, Matthew woke up a while later he smiled when Francis moved some hair away from his face and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  "Morning papa." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up meeting with his brother's happy smile. "Mattie!" Alfred embraced his brother and nearly smothered him, Matthew greatly returned the hug. "Alfie." He whispered to him and sighed in relief.

Francis scooted closer to Arthur and draped an arm over his shoulder. "How are you feeling?" he asked quietly. "Better," Arthur replied, Arthur had a bad fever the day they rescued the boys, the paramedics were very surprised to see him still standing. Francis had cared for his husband and children as best he could, but they were all drained. All he could do was provide light food that they could keep down and give them love, he wished he could do more. He wished he could've done more rather than passing out after one hit.

Arthur took hold of his balled fist grazing his thumb across his white knuckles. "Thank you, Francis, for loving me." He whispered to him and brought his lips upon his own, Francis was startled, to say the least, but he quickly recollected himself and greatly returned the kiss. "Eww!" Alfred whined and covered his brother's eyes to protect his innocence. "Dad, papa!" he huffed.

Francis chuckled and pulled away from the kiss. "I'm sorry, your father just couldn't help himself." He joked as Arthur's face turned a shade of red, though they both gave a look of concern when they heard a low rumble. Alfred squeaked and hugged himself now blushing. "Ah..." He looked away embarrassed. "Oh! You two must be starving!" Francis stated with a horrified gasp and scrambled off the bed nearly falling in the process which earned him a giggle from his children and husband. Matthew crawled over to Arthur and hugged him. "Good morning daddy." He smiled and gave out a long sigh, Arthur softly rubbed his back careful not to injure him. "Morning love." He kissed the top of his head.

The pair stayed like that for a while, Matthew was much more different than Alfred. He was quieter, smaller, and even more delicate. He needed someone like Alfred, someone who could protect him, someone who could look after him. Someone who deeply understood him. Arthur was very grateful that Francis talked him into adopting the pair, he didn't even want to think about what might've happened if he had separated the two brother's, it was too painful to think about.

Matthew eventually pulled away from the embrace but still sat in his lap looking up at him with a soft smile while Alfred climbed off the bed stating that he would go help Francis, but in reality, he just wanted his brother and father to bond more. He was going to make sure that his father never forgot about his brother again. Arthur ran his hand through Matthew's long hair smiling lovingly at him. "How are you feeling love?" he asked, Matthew shifted to get more comfortable and winced as he did so. "I'm better than before." He replied.

Arthur's heart swelled. "I'm so happy, Matthew know that no matter what I will always love you. You are my son and if I have to take these wounds for you I would do so without a doubt." Matthew immediately hugged his father again burying his face in his chest. "I love you, daddy." He said with his voice muffled. "I love you too son." Arthur chuckled and hugged him once more.

Together they both went to the kitchen where Francis was cooking a light but still large meal for his family and Alfred stood beside him standing on his toes to get a better look. "Be careful amour, I don't want you getting hurt." Francis placed a hand of Alfred's shoulder. "Yes, papa." Alfred nodded and backed away. "Daddy where is mister bear?" Matthew asked curiously. "He's drying up, I'll give him to you as soon as he's washed," Arthur promised with a nod of his head.

While the small family prepared to dig into their breakfast a loud knock at their door greatly startled them, Alfred jumped to his feet quickly running over to his brother's side taking hold of his hand, Francis pulled Arthur away from the door and looked at him. "I'll answer it." He stated and went to open the door. "Okay, who do I have to kill!?" a loud albino asked with gritted teeth. "Ah..hello Gilbert." Francis let out a sigh.

Arthur calmed his tense stance and gave a look of reassurance to his sons. "Calm down my friend, Arthur already beat you to it." Francis chuckled and allowed Gilbert to enter with his little brother in tow. "Hey, it's you!" Alfred exclaimed happily and ran to the quiet blonde headed boy. "Ludwig, it's been so long. Wow, you're so tall!" Alfred gasped. "You look so much like Dav-" Alfred quickly cut himself off as he suddenly realized something, his smile faltered and he gave a look of concern.

"Davie..."

Ludwig frowned and tilted his head to the side. "Ah, it's nothing!" Alfred grinned and took hold of the boy's hand. Meanwhile, Matthew cautiously walked toward the loud man who laughed with Francis. "Little birdie!" Gilbert grinned down at the tiny boy and kneeled to the ground. "It's nice to meet you again Mr.Gilbert." Matthew smiled. "Just call me Gilbert birdie." Gilbert chuckled and gently embraced the boy already knowing that he still had his wounds.

Matthew returned the hug and then pulled away. "Are they staying for breakfast papa?" he asked curiously. "Well..." Francis looked over at Arthur who shrugged and then over to Gilbert. "If you have enough food I'd love to join you all." He grinned. "But of course." Francis nodded and led Gilbert to the kitchen. "I found an excellent therapist for the boys, just how you and Arthur asked. He's very calm and quiet but still knows how to deal with emotional trauma." Gilbert whispered to his friend. "And he's very well with children." Francis couldn't be happier.

"What is the man's name?" he asked curiously, Gilbert grinned. "It's an odd name alright." He chuckled.

"He goes by the name Kiku Honda."