MADDIE POV

Maddie walked into the agency briskly, wanting to escape from the cold as soon as possible. The November air was beyond chilling, the agency had already received more than enough snow to last them a couple of years. Ivan was probably the only one enjoying the cold weather, forcing Tao to build a family of snowmen in the yard behind the flowerbeds with him. He was such a child sometimes. Pulling off her coat and a scarf that Francis had given her, she hesitated before taking off her gloves. She was starting to get a hang of her powers now. Taking her glasses off before they could fog up, she looked around. No one was there, all probably out Early Christmas shopping.

A pile of mail was left on the table near the door. Picking up one that had her name on it, Maddie was surprised to find that it was from Roderich Edelstein, her old music teacher and the person who had suggested she join the agency. Tearing it open, she wasn't surprised by the letter inside, the Austrian man was so old school.

Dear Madeline,

I hope that you are doing well in your new job. Ludwig is my adoptive son and has let me know that you made the job and told me of your abilities. I am sorry to say that things have not been going well at the school. Now being the principal I have noticed some strange things going on. Ludwig says that he is hesitant to tell the others about the problem since he isn't normally very open, so I am asking you to call upon your new friends to help our school.

I hope you will consider this,

Roderich

Looking up from the letter, Maddie couldn't help but remember how odd Ludwig had been acting. He would look at her with a questioning gaze, she had thought it was just because she was a little odd at moments. She quickly dropped her stuff off to her room, continuing into the rec room to examine the letter again.

"Maddie?" Francis's voice broke her out of her reverie. She looked up to see the entire group staring at her. Ludwig caught sight of her letter and gave a small sigh of relief.

"Sorry, were you talking to me?" She asked. The group gave her a worried look.

"We've been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes. Êtes-vous d'accord? Est votre estomac ou de la tête nuisent à nouveau?" Francis hurried over to her placing a hand on her cheek. She flinched instinctively, but once again nothing happened as their skin made contact. Getting his meaning, having practiced her French.

"Not really, just the normal ache. But that wasn't why I… I was just thinking. I got a letter from an old friend, it sounds like he is having supernatural issues at the school he works at. Do you think that we could check it out?" She asked.

"I don't see why not, we need the cash since we haven't had a case since the Lady in White's. Where is the school?"

"The school is in Maine. We can probably stay with the family, isn't that right Ludwig?" All attention turned to the silent German.

"Yes. Roderich vould love to have us. Though I vill apologize ahead of time for my bruder."

"You have a brother?" Alice asked. "And did you know about this previously?"

"Sadly yes, and he has a tendency to annoy." He paused for a minute, "I did not vant to mention my adoptive father's predicament in case you vould dismiss it as an emotionally attached suggestion."

"You mean to tell me that Roderich has been having problems and you didn't tell me!" Felicia yelled. "He raised me too!"

"Es tut mir leid, Feli. I did not mean to upset you."

"Okay, now we're confused." Alfred spoke for all of them. "Could someone please explain how you three all know this guy?"

"He was my old music teacher when I went for an associates degree. He was very kind and suggested I come see if I could get a job here." Maddie explained, "I didn't know that he knew Felicia and Ludwig until now. So how do you two know him, eh?"

"As I said before he is my adoptive father. He took me and my bruder, Gilbert in after our parents died. He is technically my uncle twice removed. He raised us and… dealt with my abilities the best he could. Felicia has known our family for a while."

"I kind of ran away from home when I was younger, ve. Too much of a nerd for the other kids in the neighborhood to handle." Felicia shrugged. "Ludwig got me out of trouble with the cops." Her eyes said that she didn't want to talk about it.

Maddie shifted in her seat. The air had become still. Everyone knew that each person in the room had a hard life before the agency, they just tried to forget it, acting as each other's family. When the past got brought up, most did not want to speak of past troubles. - "Why was I cursed with raising such a freak?" Her mother sighed loudly, unaware that Maddie was listening from the door, tears streaming down her cheeks.- "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry." She would whimper as she cried herself to sleep, just wishing that she could make her parents happy.- She shook the memory away, feeling herself get teary eyed. Dwelling on the past would not help her now.

Francis noticed her struggle and changed the topic. "We should get ready to help the friend of our friends, non? Maddie do you want to help me move everything from the car before we go?" She quickly nodded at the escape from the pressing silence.

Translations:

Êtes-vous d'accord? Est votre estomac ou de la tête nuisent à nouveau?- Are you okay? Is your stomach or head hurting again?

Bruder- brother

Es tut mir leid- I am sorry

Author's Notes:

Hello again, I just wanted to say that this fanfic is getting more and more fun. I apologize now because It is taking me so long to update. It was finals week and I had like 4 projects going on so it took a while, plus these stories take a while to write! I will try to hurry though but I might just end up on an odd schedule of uploading when I have the time. That plus the fat that my computer privileges are few and far between so I will try. ONCE AGAIN SORRY! I hope that you are getting the Koutora-san references that I have fit into the story as Maddie's past. Very sad series even with that weird guy in it. I even cried. Anyways, yes I am bringing 'de Awesome' Prussia into this. I know it will make all Prussia fans happy- me included. I will stray from the JPIA on his stance. He will not try to kill Francis so, I'm sorry. Actually I am bringing in the Bad Touch Trio- Antonio is his roommate and Francis is going to get along with them so well. I know. I am evil. Especially to Roderich where they all come over for dinner. Also, no markings for German because I am lazy. I will shut up now and move onto Part 2!