Summary:

Alice and Francis have been married for 15 years now. Alice is now a nurse and France owns his own restaurant. They have two daughters, Amelia (age 16) and Madeline (age 14). The house is nothing but a ball of chaos. Amelia has huge anger issues and Madeline is extremely delicate. They love their girls very much though and get by the best they can as a family. The last thing they'd need right now is a third child...but that's exactly what they get! Alice is stressing out so that leaves it to Francis, like always, to keep everyone's spirits up and help his family through it. Who knows, maybe a third child is just what they need?


Alice groaned as she heard the girls yelling in their room as they got ready for school. The mom had worked a late shift last night and shouldn't even be up so early.

"That's enough, girls!" She hit the wall, only for the yelling to stop, but faint mutterings following after, probably from her oldest. Alice huffed and laid back on her pillow.

Francis awoke from the thumps against the wall. He stretched slightly and looked to his wife.

"Good morning." He smiled before leaning over and kissing her softly. "I'll sort the girls out. Want me to make you tea as well?"

"Yes please..." She sighed, slightly glaring at the wall. "Amelia's already driving me bloody crazy today..."

And she knew it was Amelia who started whatever the two sisters were fighting about. Her oldest was spoiled and stubborn while their youngest, Madeline, was much more soft spoken. Francis smiled and gave a gentle sigh.

"Just...I'll deal with the girls, make their breakfast and lunch...and then I'll bring you a nice cup of tea."

He leaned over and kissed her once more before getting up. He walked to the girls' room and knocked on the door.

"Open the door...I need to have a word with you girls." He said calmly.

The youngest opened the door and wiped her eyes with her pj top.

"Papa..." Madeline sniffled. "She ripped my sweater..."

The girl's red sweater was on her bed, sleeves partially off, and Amelia busy throwing Maddie's clothes out of their closet. Francis frowned and brought the smaller girl into a hug.

"Don't cry, ma cherie. We will buy you a new one." He said with a smile before kissing her head. "I'm sure there's something else for you to wear today."

He frowned as he glanced at Amelia. He stepped around his youngest and approached the older girl.

"Honestly, Amelia, you're suppose to be the older one here. Get dressed and stop causing a fuss." The man told her before looking back at the other girl. "Madeline, grab an outfit and you can get dressed in the spare room."

Maddie nodded and start scanning the floor for different pieces of clothing.

"I'm going to make your lunches today. Your mother is very tired and this is a poor way to repay her." He continued. "Amelia, I want you to get dressed and have all these clothes hung back up in the wardrobe please..."

"But it wasn't her sweater, it was my sweater!" Amelia stomped her foot. "And if I can't have it, neither can she!"

"But Mummy just bought me that one..." Maddie murmured. "Yours is in the back of the closet next to your Captain America shirt..."

The younger sister didn't see why it mattered; her sister hasn't worn the sweater since she was in 8th grade...

"Well, I didn't see it!" Amelia snapped at her sister.

Madeline flinched, genuinely afraid of her sister. Amelia had this weird way of going from vicious to cuddle and it was rather worrying. Francis sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.

"Girls please...I will buy you a new one." He said, taking Maddie's hand. "Please tidy up these clothes, Amelia. Now, what do you want for lunch?"

"Can't we just have lunch money?" The oldest complained.

Honestly, if the Frenchman didn't get an answer out of Amelia then he'd get no answer at all. He youngest was so indecisive that she usually got whatever her sister got.

And these are Maddie's clothes so she's clean them up." Amelia looked to her little sister. "Right?"

"B-But...I didn't..." The girl murmured.

"Fine, I'll give you lunch money for today." Francis frowned. "But you're cleaning up the mess since you made it. If Madeline had done it, then she'd be doing the same, but you made the mess."

At that, Francis left the room with his youngest. Amelia let out a yell before she started kicking Maddie's clothes into the closet. Maddie went straight to the spare room to change. A minute later, Alice came out of the bathroom, looking pale.

"Did she break anything this time?" Alice asked, rubbing her temples. She hadn't even been up long, but she already had a headache and her stomach felt off.

Francis sighed and looked to his wife.

"Madeline's red sweater..." He frowned at his wife. "You look awful, mon amour. Go back to bed; I'll bring you your tea after I have a talk with Amelia."

Alice nodded as her husband headed back into the girls' room, shutting the door behind him.

"You know that's not what I meant by putting them away." He said, picking a shirt up from the floor and grabbing a hanger. "I'll help you put them away."

Amelia was quiet as he put the shirt on the hanger and hung it up.

"I don't understand why you're so angry. She's your little sister; you're suppose to look after her, not frighten her to death... Is there something you want to talk about?" He asked.

Amelia glared at the wall and silently started putting the clothes on hangers. Why should she talk to him? She already knew what he would say and in the end, nothing would change. Still...even Amelia knew her feelings flared too easily and it worried her. Her glare dulled and she looked away from her dad. Francis frowned and continued to hang up the clothes.

"Amelia, you can't continue like this; Madeline is afraid of you." He told her and waited for a response. When none came, he sighed. "When you let your pride go, you can come talk to me. I'm not going to waste my breath if you aren't going to listen. I love you Amelia, but I'm worried about you and Madeline."

On that note, the Frenchman left the room and headed downstairs.

Alice and Madeline came down a few minutes later after the mom helped with her daughter's pigtails and ribbons. The Brit knew her husband wanted her to rest in bed, but she wouldn't be Alice if she didn't defy the Frog ever once in a while. Francis didn't fight it though and just handed his wife her tea when she sat down. Maddie went over to the cereal boxes and stared at them, trying to decide which to eat for the day. The parents knew that she'd be thinking on it for another couple minutes.

Alice sighed and stood up before walking to the med cabinet. She just didn't understand her girls. Her oldest was confusing and had a temper while her youngest was as fragile as a tea cup, but when given a decision, her mind turns to mush and if you aren't careful, she will end up in a fit of tears. Once she took the medicine, Alice sat back down at the table, sipping at her tea. After about three minutes of staring, Madeline chose a cereal and poured it in her bowl. Francis sat down beside Alice and stroke the bangs away from her face.

"Plenty of rest today, oui? Just relax and take care of yourself today." He said softly.

"I'm fine, Frog." She mumbled.

Amelia came downstairs just then, looking more depressed than angry. She went straight for the cereal, doing in an instant what her sister couldn't, then sat down next to Maddie, laying her head on the other girl's shoulder. The younger girl jumped a little at first then noticed her sister's expression. Madeline may be scared of her sister, but she was always there when Amelia needed her. She wrapped an arm around her older sister as they ate.

Alice took her husband's hand as they watched their girls. Despite their flaws, their daughters were always there for each other so at least she and Francis did something right with them. Francis smiled at the scene, though was still worried about the girls, particularly Amelia. He kissed his wife softly.

"Can I get you something to eat, dear?" He asked Alice.

"No thank you..." Alice shook her head, not sure her stomach could handle food, but she didn't want to tell him so and have him worry.

She picked up her and took a little sip, silently telling herself that tea solves everything. As the girls ate, Amelia's mood started to perk up, probably at the thought of getting to drive her new car. Alice allowed it as long as she agreed to share it with Maddie when she gets her licence.

Amelia tugged on her sister's arm.

"Come on, come on!" She grinned, plucking the smaller girl out of her chair.

"Be careful." Alice told them. "And remember, driving that care is a responsibility, not a privilege."

Francis smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Oui and make sure Madeline gets to class safely."

"Got it!" Amelia grinned before taking Maddie's hand and dragging her out the door. She came back in a minute or so later though.

"Forgot our bags..." She mumbled, face red but looking amused as she grabbed the bags and headed back out to the care. Alice shook her head, but cracked a smile. Oh those girls...

Francis saw his wife's smile and smiled also.

"So I was thinking we should add a second wardrobe to the girls' room." He suggested. "It seems like those fights are a regular occurrence so I think this might help them."

"I suppose we should." Alice admitted, taking a sip of tea. "At the very least, it might minimize the fighting a bit..."

The emerald-eyed woman frowned into her tea cup. Honestly, she was so worried about her daughters, but didn't know what to do.

Francis nodded.

"Oui, I think it's time we both sit down and have a talk with Amelia." He agreed. "As for Madeline...well, maybe it's just her young age...but she's very timid. If she doesn't better when she's older, maybe we should look into it...but please don't worry. You are a wonderful mother and this isn't your fault."

"Well then who's bloody fault is it, Francis?" Alice snapped, setting her cup down. "It's our job to raise these girls into people who can handle the real world when they're adults, but instead they throw tantrums and cry like they are five years old!"

She didn't mean to sound harsh, but that's just how her words came out when she didn't watch her tone. She covered her face with her hand and sighed.

"We...we need to do something soon..." She murmured.

Francis sighed heavily.

"With Amelia, yes, but let's give Madeline time to grow out of it." He told her. "Just remember that we've tried our best and you are an amazing mother."

Alice leaned against her husband for a moment.

"I just-" Her body tensed up and she bolted from her chair. "E-Excuse me!"

She rushed down the hall to the first floor bathroom.

Francis raised his brows before following after her. He knocked on the door gently.

"Alice? Sweetheart, can I come in?"

"J-Just go!" She choked out. What she was doing was revolting and she didn't want her husband to see her sick. Another round empty her stomach then she laid her head on the seat.

Francis frowned and waited till she had stopped before opening the door and crouching next to her, pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

"It's okay... ma cherie, maybe you should go to the doctor?" He suggested.

"You know I hate the doctors..." She complained, not wanting to lift her head. After a moment though, she lifted her head anyway and leaned against her husband. "I hate today..."

"And why today?" He asked.

"Well...other than the obvious," She explained, referring to her being sick. "I just feel so helpless...because I want to help the girls..."

"Alice...I know you do." He said softly. "But you can't help them while you yourself are unwell."

Alice sighed.

"You're right...why are you always bloody right?" She mumbled, grabbing onto the sink to help herself up. "I'll call the doctor and see if he'll see me today..."

Francis stood up and kissed her head.

"Merci, ma belle."

Alice sighed. She was dreading the idea of going to the doctor, but she has to go, doesn't she?