"What are you doing here Mom?" Matthew asked, his jaw hanging.
"I came to see how Alfred is doing, I heard what James did." Mom said, and shuffled her feat nervously.
Alfred just sighed. "Not to be rude Mom, but why are you here and worried about me? I thought you hated me." he asked, his voice breaking a little.
Mom looked away. "I was wrong to think you were like your father. I know that now. But, would you consider living with me?" she asked, still not looking at Alfred.
Alfred sighed. "Mom, I never thought I'd say this, I love you. But, I don't think I could live with you when you willingly gave me over to Dad," he said. "I'd rather live in the orphanage. But, I'd visit if you'd like."
Mom nodded slightly and smiled. "I understand. But you are welcomed anytime," she said softly then nodded to Matthew. "Let's go home. We can come back and visit tomorrow." She said, like she was talking to a three year old.
Matthew didn't mind or he didn't notice. He said goodbye to Alfred and Arthur, then left with Mom. Arthur sat beside Alfred when Matthew and Mom left. "Are you sure you're okay Alfred? You look really beat up." he said worrringly, and found himself gripping Alfred's hand.
Alfred smiled weakly, which looked kind of weird on his bruised face. "I'm okay Artie. Really. It's not like I'm going to die or anythi-" he was cut off by a fit off coughing.
Arthur gripped Alfred's hand tighter. "You should take it easy Alfred. Don't strain yourself." he said.
Alfred smiled a little wider, then his eyes closed slowly, and his breathing steadied. Arthur smiled, and was about to leave when Alfred gripped his hand tighter and whispered. "Don't go. Please."
Arthur laughed a little. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere." ~~~
"Alfred! I'm here!" Dr. Khan said, and peeked in the door.
"Oh! Hey Kervin!" Alfred grinned, and looked away from his magazine to look at Dr. Khan.
Dr. Khan entered the room, and smiled. "I'm here to see how your ribs are mending." he said, and flipped a sheet of paper on a clipboard.
"Alright Kervin." Alfred said, and set down his MAD magazine on the bedside desk.
Kervin walked over to the bed, and adjusted a machine over Alfred. "Alrighg Alfred, ready?" he asked, and flipped the switch on the machine. Alfred nodded, and the machine scanned his body. Kervin glanced at the moniter and a picture of Alfred's ribs popped up. They looked like broken sticks, and didn't look like they were healing well. Dr. Khan glanced at Alfred sadly, but Alfred was looking at the screen. "Kervin, I know my ribs arn't going to heal that well. All my years of abuse have finally payed off huh?" Alfred asked.
Kervin smiled sadly. "I guess so Alfred. I'm afraid your ribs won't med properly. You'll have breathing problems for the rest of your life." he said, and scribbled things on a peice of paper on his clipboard.
Alfred could've sworn that he saw a tear roll down Kervin's face.
Kervin straitened up. "Well, I'm goin to bring in my report to Dr. Hugh, Don't move, alright Alfred?" he said as he left.
"I don't think I can go anywhere Kervin!" Alfred said, and laughed, then started to cough. "This is going to take some getting used to." Alfred muttered when he was done coughing.
A few minuets later Dr. Hugh opened the door, and Alfred broke into a grin. "Broddy!" he exclaimed.
Dr. Hugh smiled. "Hello Alfred. Dr. Kervin gave me his report, and I came to see how your ribs are doing." he said and closed the door, then approached the bed.
"Alright Broddy. But, Kervin told me that my ribs won't heal right. So I'll have breathing problems for the rest of my life." Alfred said.
Dr. Hugh's smile faded when he saw the picture on the screen. "Oh my. Alfred they're worse than I thought, I mean, they'll heal, but, you'll have horrible breathing problems." he said.
Alfred sighed. "Look Broddy. I'm not going to go through life acting like I'm handicapped. I'll live the way I want to live. I don't care that I'll have a breathing problem for the rest of my life. That won't stop me." he said, and stared at Dr. Hugh, daring him to tell him wrong.
Dr. Hugh smiled, then laughed. "You're right Alfred. A breathing problem won't stop you. But, it's a long road to recovery. Atleast six months. Can you handle that?" he asked, and sat down next to Alfrd on the bed.
"You know I can Broddy." Alfred grinned.
"That's why we're all rooting for you." Dr. Hugh smiled, and ruffled Alfred's dirty blonde hair.
"Thanks Broddy, you're like the Dad I never had." Alfred said, and hugged him.
Dr. Hugh hugged Alfred back. "And you're like the son I never had, Alfred." he whispered. ~~~
Alfred shouldered his backpack, and sucked in some breath. This was his first day back to school in a month. "Thanks for the ride Broddy!" he said and lept out of the car. "Anytime Alfred!" he said before Alfred closed the door.
Alfred pushed the door open, and walked up to his locker. "Hey Alfred!" a voice said behind him.
He turned to see a boy that had red hair, with a curl on the side of his head. Alfred could tell his eye color, because his eyes were closed. "Hello, wait. Who are you now?" Alfred asked, but that didn't stop Alfred from shaking the boy's hand.
"I'm Feliciano Vargas! But you can call me Feli." the boy giggled in an Italian accent.
"Okay Feli, nice to meetcha!"
"Bastard! Get over here!" a voice said behind Feliciano.
Alfred's eyebrows shot up. "Who was that?"
Feliciano's dreamy smile widened. "My big brother Lovi!" he said exitedly, and a boy that looked like Feliciano's clone, exept with darker hair, stomped up.
"Feliciano, why do you keep wondering away like that? That potato bastard's looking for you, and for the last time. My name is Lovino!" Lovino growled, and slapped Feliciano upside the head.
But Feliciano didn't seem to be fazed by the slap to the head. "Ludwig!" he squealed and ran off.
Lovino glanced at Alfred as if saying Sorry, I guess. Just don't judge him, okay you bastard? then stormed off after his brother.
Alfred was confused, but shrugged. He wondered where Arthur was, he looked around. Instead of seeing Arthur, he saw Toris. Alfred grinned. "Hey Toris!" he shouted and ran toward him.
Toris jumped slightly, and looked at Alfred, but calmed down when he saw who it was. "Oh, hello Alfred. Feeling better?" he asked.
Alfred noticed that Toris had his hair tied in a small ponytail. "Who were you staring at?" Alfred asked, and looked in the direction Toris was staring at, he saw Natalia, Ivan's little sister. Alfred grinned at Toris, and wiggled his eyebrows. "So, you like Natalia huh?" Alfred asked, and leaned against the wall.
Toris blushed from ear-to-ear. "Kind. I-I guess." he mumbled, and looked at his shoes.
"Wait, I heard that Feliks had a thing for 'ya." Alfred said, tilting his head a little.
Toris blushed a little more. "Feliks? We're just friends. Don't be silly." he said.
Alfred held up his hands. "Alright, whatever you say man." he said.
The bell rung, and Alfred started to walk away. "See ya later man. Gotta get to class."
Author's Note:
;_; I cried when I wrote that Broderick and Alfred scene, it was so touching.
Just joking, I didn't cry. But I thought it was really good.
And as for Xaphrielle's reveiw, when I wrote the last chapter it was 3:00 AM, and I was tired, and watching Little House on the Prarie. You know Albert and Alfred sound so similer, and Gilbert, I kinda mixed up for a second and forgot to fix it, sorry. ^^;