A/N: This. Is going to be. My longest. Fic. Ever. Holy. Shit.

Arthur

"Mummy. Why is there a truck outside?"

I stand on my tiptoes to try and peek out the kitchen window. My mum picks me up and gives me a peck on the cheek.

"Those are our new neighbors poppet. I heard from your father that they have a son, 4 years old, just like you."

I stare out the window with wide eyes as the people walk back and forth across the yard with a bunch of boxes. After a few minutes of watching a short and kinda chubby blond kid hops out of the truck wearing a too large sweatshirt and an American flag shirt.

"You seem to show some interest in them. How about after supper all three of us go over and say hello? I'll even bake my special apple pie. What do you think of that dearie?"

She bounces me up and down and then sits me down on the counter.

"Do I gotta?"

"Yes you do. Arthur dearie, you don't have many friends your age and I think it might be a good thing to at least go talk to them. Maybe you'll like them, you never know."

I cross my arms and fiddle with my music-note charm bracelet that my aunt Laura gave me for my birthday. What if they don't like me? They might be like the other ones who made fun of me for my green eyes. I sigh and look down at my dangling feet. I look up when I hear the front door open. When I look up I see my dad walk into the kitchen and kiss my mum on the forehead and he picks me up and tosses me in the air.

"Hello sport!"

He catches me and rubs my head.

"How ya doin' today?"

"I'm doing good dad!"

I smile a large toothy smile, but I'm missing one of my front teeth. My mum puts something in the oven and wipes her hands off on her purple apron.

"Arthur dear, please go into the sitting room. I need to talk to your father."

I look up at her but do as she says. I hop off the counter and leave the kitchen, but I stay right outside the doorway to see what they're talking about.

"What is it Ellen?"

"Harold. I'm worried about our son."

"What could possibly be wrong with Arthur? He's a happy 4 year old boy."

"He has no friends. We had to pull him out of Nursery School because he didn't get along with the other children. I'm afraid he'll grow up… Different."

"Listen, Ellen, I am sure Arthur is going to be perfectly fine. There's nothing wrong being different. How do you think I felt being the only American in an English high school? Our son is going to be fine."

"Harold. What if he doesn't get along with the new neighbors? You saw what he did to the Johnsons' frog. That's why they moved."

"He was 3. I am sure he has matured a bit since then. The neighbors will love him just as much as we do."

I rub my nose and run up stairs to my bed room.

Alfred

"My walls should be blue! With stars on the ceiling!"

I bounce up and down on my bed as the mover people put stuff into my room.

"Alfred! Get down right now! What will your father say?!"

I automatically sit down and cross my legs. My ma's brown hair looks all poofy from here so I end up laughing.

"Sorry ma. I'm just excited ya know? Dad said that there is a kid next door and I should play with him sometime."

"He said that you can play with him after you lose 3 pounds. We don't want those kids making fun of you again like the last time. We moved to England for a new start. You got pulled out of three pre-schools in 6 months Alfred."

"It wasn't my fault! They made me hit them!"

"And how exactly did they do that?! They didn't make you make their nose bleed!"

My eyes get wide as she raises her voice and I could feel my eyes getting wet. He face then looks very sorry and she comes over and hugs me.

"Mommy's sorry Alfie. I didn't mean to raise my voice at you sweetheart."

She pulls back and smiles.

"Now, how about we go downstairs and I make some burgers for dinner for when daddy gets home?"

My eyes widen and I smile really big like.

"Yeah!"

Arthur

"Arthur! Time for supper! We're having fish and chips tonight!"

"Alrighty mum!"

I hop out of my bed and run down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"What have I told you about running in the house?"

"Sorry mum."

She smiles nicely and hands me my dinner.

"Go sit at the table. Your father and I will be out in a minute."

I nod and go into the dining room and sit down at the end of the table and put my dinner down. She never makes this unless she wants something. I wonder what she wants today. I look over and see my parents walk in and sit next to me.

"Arthur, before we eat, your mother has something she would like to ask of you."

I look up at my dad and then over at my mum.

"Poppet, sweetheart, I have decided that I am going over to your Granddad's this weekend and your father has a business trip during this time too. So, if everything goes well, would you be okay with staying at the neighbors' house. If they agree to this that is."

"Uhm."

I look down at my food and pick at it. She knows I have the thing. I can't talk to people. I sigh and then look back up at my mum and smile.

"Okay mum."

She smiles nicely and kisses my nose.

"Thank you so much poppet."

"Now Arthur, please try to be as social as possible. I know you have Selective Mutism. But just try and say basic words. One at a time. Two syllables at most. Alright dearie?"

My mum zips up my jacket and holds my hand as the three of us walk across the lawn and over to the neighbors' front door. It looked huge from where I was. It was also very blue and had a silver handle. My mum lets go of my hand and knocks on the door. When the door opens there is a skinny lady with long brown hair and blue eyes, with a nice smile.

"You three must be the neighbors. I'm Mrs. Jones, but you can call me April. My husband Liam and my son Alfred are in the den."

"It's a pleasure to meet you April. I'm Mrs. Kirkland, you may call me Ellen. This is my husband Harold and my son Arthur."

Miss April kneels down in front of me and smiles.

"Well aren't you a handsome young man. It's nice to meet you."

She holds out her hand and I hesitantly shake it slightly and hide behind my mum's leg.

"Oh, Arthur has Selective Mutism. He doesn't talk to anyone except for relatives. Don't be offended by it."

Miss April stands up and ushers us inside, closing the door behind her.

"Don't worry about it. It takes an arm and a half to get my Alfred to quiet down. It's nice to have a quiet child every once in a while. Especially one with such pretty green eyes. Where did he get them from?"

"He got them from my great uncle back in Mississippi. It isn't very common."

"Well they are absolutely precious."

I look up at her with some fascination and smile.

"Th-Thank you M-Miss April."

I clutch onto my mum's pant leg and hide farther behind her.

"Well you are very welcome Arthur. Now follow me, hopefully Liam and Alfred are done watching the game long enough to say hi. Oh and I apologize for all the boxes. There is still tons of unpacking to be done."

"Oh not at all. It was like this the first week we moved here too. Even more so when Arthur was born."

She takes us into a very odd looking room. It had large pictures of people I didn't know and there was bunches of food on the small table.

"Liam. Alfred. These are the Kirkland's. Our neighbors."

Automatically the big man stands up and shakes my mum and dad's hands.

"How do you do? I'm Liam."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Liam."

"Nice to see ya Liam. Which game are you two watchin?"

"Cowboys and Ravens game."

"Hell! I loved the Ravens. But since I moved here I couldn't really watch the games."

"Well come on and watch it with us."

Mr. Liam and my dad sit down on the couch and watch the game on the telly.

"Alfred, say hi to the new neighbors."

The chubby blond kid hops off the couch and suddenly squishes me in a hug. I could feel my heart beating a lot faster and my hands shake slightly.

"I'm Alfred! You're my new best friend!"

He lets go of me and smiles a large toothy smile. He's missing a tooth too. I blink for a second and smile slightly. I try to say my name but nothing comes out. Then, I could feel my mum's hand on my shoulder.

"It is nice to meet you Alfred. I'm Miss Ellen and this is Arthur. Why don't the two of you go up and play in your room?"

"Alrighty Mrs. K! Come on Artie!"

He grabs my hand and pulls me out of the room.

"Wha-! My name isn't Artie!"

When we get up stairs he takes me into a large blue room and sits me down on the bed. He was a little bit shorter than me but obviously heavier and stronger.

"We're gonna play I Win, You Lose!"

My brow furrows and I cross my arms.

"N-N-No."

"Yes. My house. My rules. America rules!"

He takes out a small flag and poses with it.

"I'm the hero!"

"So, Arthur, how did it go?"

"Alfred is conceited. But nice. Nicer than the Nursery School kids."

My mum smiles as she tucks me into bed.

"Well that's great poppet. I will talk to April tomorrow and see about you staying over their house for the weekend. Don't worry. It will only be three days."

"Okay mum. Good night."

I smile and place my tooth under my pillow.

"Good night poppet. I love you."

"I love you too."

She smiles and closes my door.

A/N: I hope you all liked it. Sorry if it doesn't seem like 4 year olds very much. I'm used to writing for older people and I tried as well as I can.