"No, Alfred," Arthur told the teary eyed boy, "You should've listened to me and not watched that show like I told you. You're going to bed now."
"But I'm scared!"
"I told you you would. And I told you that you weren't going to get to sleep with Papa and I when you did get scared. Matthew will sleep close by, you'll be in the same room."
"But…but…"
Now to lay the guilt card. Arthur offered him a reassuring smile.
"Besides, if those monsters are real, you wouldn't want to sleep with your parents and leave Matthew all alone to defend himself. Would Superman do such a thing?"
It worked like a charm. Arthur knew exactly how to get to Alfred's hero complex and his love for his twin at the same time. The small boy set his jaw in determination.
"No, he wouldn't. I'll be with Matthew and protect him. But," his voice wavered just a tad, "Can we leave the light on? You know, so it will be easier for me to fight the monsters if they come?"
"You can have two nightlights on," Arthur negotiated.
"Deal."
Later that night, Arthur was resting but his bushy eyebrows were cringing as he slept. He dreamt of his boys in their teenage years. Matthew-terror of all terrors-gets a boyfriend. Arthur felt sick to his stomach. Then Alfred decides to move out of the house. Out of the house! Where will he go?!
The nightmare continued. Matthew graduated with his doctorate and didn't need him anymore. Alfred was having his wedding, getting married to that little Russian boy in his preschool class that Arthur always felt uneasy about.
The English man woke up with a cold sweat. His husband sensed the mood and shifted to him.
"What's wrong, mon ami? A nightmare?"
Arthur hated it when his composure fell. He offered a strained smile at Francis.
"Just a small fright," he admitted.
"That's good."
"Maybe we should let our boys sleep with us tonight?" Arthur suggested.
Francis shot him a disapproving look.
"You had the dream again," it wasn't a question.