Author Commentary; I'm back from my trip! And I must say, while the trip was amazing and I loved it, I was so exhausted from all of the running around and not eating properly because we were trying to see everything we wanted to see in such a short period of time. I don't think I'll ever go on another bus tour. As amazing as everything was, I was so tired by the time I got home that I could barely process what I had experienced because I was so exhausted. Oh well, on with the story.
Title; Birthday
Characters; America, Canada, England, France
Pairs; FrUK
Rating; T
Warnings; Trauma, post child abuse, moderate yaoi, angst
Disclaimer; I don't own Hetalia or its characters.
Arthur hummed to himself as he washed the dishes from the day. Ever since the two boys had warmed up to them, things had been going much more smoothly. Alfred was beginning to come out of his shell and was actually beginning to play like a normal child. Just the other day Francis had found out that Alfred enjoyed sports. Matthew however, was still quiet and timid, but he wasn't so nervous and shaky lately, and he didn't mind it when Arthur or Francis touched him anymore. He also seemed to show a liking for hockey and other wintery things. Maybe they would get them some sports things for their birthday's.
"On that note, when are their birthday's?" Arthur wondered. Holy crap! They had no idea when the boy's birthday's were!
Quickly finishing the dishes, Arthur dried his hands and ran into the TV room where Francis was watching a documentary about Polar Bears with Alfred and Matthew. They watched him enter the room and sit down next to Alfred.
"Alfred, Matthew, I have a question for the two of you." Arthur said.
Both boys looked up at him, eyes wide. Alfred and Matthew, though more comfortable around the two adult's now, where still very guarded when it came to things like being asked questions, afraid that they would get the answer wrong or say something to offend Arthur or Francis and get punished for it.
Arthur smiled down at them and reached out to stroke Alfred's hair, "I was just wondering when your birthday's were is all. Nothing bad."
Alfred tilted his head to the side, "Birthday?" he asked.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, "Yes, your birthday. The day you were born."
Both Alfred and Matthew exchanged glances and looked back at Arthur, "I don't think we have anything like that." Alfred said.
Arthur and Francis exchanged shocked glances, "You mean to tell uz zat you 'ave never celebrated your own birzdayz?" Francis asked in disbelief.
Alfred and Matthew, beginning to worry that they had said the wrong thing, started to panic, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but we don't know." Matthew whimpered, shaking a little.
Francis placed a comforting hand on Matthew's head and combed through his silky curls, "It iz alright little one. You are not in trouble at all. We will juzt 'ave to go and find out from zomewhere elze iz all."
After a few minutes of getting the boys to calm down and relax, Arthur and Francis excused themselves to go talk in the kitchen, but let the boys keep the TV on so they could finish watching the program on Polar Bears. Alfred and Matthew exchanged a look.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Matthew asked.
"I dunno." Alfred said, "But what do you think a birthday is?"
Matthew shrugged, "The day you were born, like Arthur said I guess."
"But why would we know that?" Alfred asked, "We don't remember what we were like when we were babies."
"Francis said something about celebrating your birthday, but that doesn't make sense. Why would you celebrate something that's already happened?" Matthew said, "We're already born, so why should we celebrate it?"
"I have no idea." Alfred said, looking back to the TV where a Polar Bear was trundling along a frozen landscape with her two cubs.
In the kitchen, Arthur was pacing, "I can't believe those parents of theirs never even celebrated the boys birthdays!" he ranted, "The nerve!"
"Arthur." Francis said, trying to calm his husband, "From what I remember of my couzin, she was juzt az self-obzezzed az my mother iz. She probably barely even looked at the boyz."
Arthur huffed, "Your entire family is horrible." he said.
Francis rolled his eyes, "Doez zat make me 'orrible az well zen?" he asked, "After all, I am a part of my own family."
Arthur rolled his eyes, "Fine, most of your family is horrible. The rest are just bonkers."
"Oh mon cher, you wound me zo." Francis cried dramatically.
"Yeah yeah." Arthur said, reaching for the phone, "Be wounded somewhere else, I have to call the agency to see if they don't have the boys birth certificates on hand."
Francis huffed, "Fine, I will juzt go play wiz ze boyz zen." he said, leaving the kitchen and returning to the two boys on the couch.
Arthur rolled his eyes again, "Bloody git." he muttered, waiting for the phone to be picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hello, this is Arthur Kirkland. My husband and I-"
"Fagot" *click*
Arthur glared at the phone. No matter where they went Arthur and Francis couldn't escape those hated glares sent there way just for being who they were. Didn't they both have the right to love who they pleased, just like everybody else? It just wasn't fair that they should have to hide who they were and be unhappy just to conform to society.
Arthur was about to slam down the phone and storm away when it rang, startling him and nearly making him drop the phone. He composed himself and pressed the button, "Hello?" he asked.
"This is the agency you just called. We're so sorry about that. It'll never happen again sir." a frantic sounding woman's voice floated over the phone.
"Damn well better not. You think I like being called names just for being with the one I love. Do you think it's fair that I don't get to openly love like the rest of the world?" Arthur growled.
"Yes, I'm very sorry. If there's anything we can do for you, please let us know." the young girl said.
"I called because I was wondering if you had the birth certificates of two young boys my husband and I came into guardianship of." Arthur said, calmer now that he had gotten some of the rage out of his system, "Their names are Alfred and Matthew Jones, but it might be Williams as well, we aren't sure."
"Alright sir, I'll just be a moment." the girl said. A few clicking noises were heard (probably the keys of a computer), "Okay, we do have the birth certificates. Would you like us to mail them to you?"
"Yes, thank you. I was also wondering if you could give me the birth dates of both boys." Arthur asked.
"Okay, let me see. Alfred's birthday is July the fourth, and Matthew's is July the first. Is there anything else I cane do for you?"
"No, thank you, that's all I needed." Arthur said.
"Okay then, I'll just mail these to you then. May I please have your address?"
After a few minutes, everything was set up and ready to be mailed. Arthur said his goodbye and hung up. He was still reeling a little on the inside due to the rudeness of the first person he talked to, so he turned on his heel and stomped into the TV room. Both boys were fast asleep and francis was watching them lovingly. He glanced p as Arthur came into the room and raised an eyebrow at his furious behavior. Arthur wasted no time and bent down to kiss Francis solidly on the mouth, pressing his tongue against those soft lips. Francis hummed and quickly reciprocated, pushing his own tongue against his small husband's invading one.
"Ze man on ze phone pizzed you off I azume?" Francis panted when they parted.
"Bloody sheep fuckers." Arthur growled, surging forward and kissing Francis again, "Idiots, the lot of them."
"Mon cher, you know I love it when you get ziz way, but per'hapz we should put ze boyz to bed before we begin making out on ze couch." Francis said, looking pointedly down at the two sleeping children resting their heads on his lap.
Arthur made a noise of agreement and walked around the couch to gently scoop little Alfred into his arms and carry him up the stairs to his bedroom, Francis following close behind with Matthew. They gently laid them down on their beds and tucked them in tightly, giving both a kiss on the forehead before retreating to their own bedroom.
"Zo, did you find out what ze boyz birzdayz were?" Francis asked after what had probably been the quietest round of sex the two of them had ever had.
Arthur nodded sleepily, "July the fourth for Alfred and July the first for Matthew." he said.
"Goodnezz, zo cloze. We should ztart planning a party." Francis said, pulling the covers up over Arthur's shoulders.
"Yes, we should." Arthur sighed before drifting off into the world of dreams. Francis smiled down at him and snuggled in next to him. It really had been too long since the two of them had had sex.
The next day was all about preparing two suitable birthday celebrations for the two boys. Both Arthur and Francis took turns playing with the boys and planning the party at different times, so the boys wouldn't be left alone for too there was one thing that neither of them wanted was to make the boys feel neglected. The next few weeks were a little hectic, trying to plan two birthdays while trying to keep it a secret from the ones being celebrated.
Finally, Canada Day, July first, and Matthew's birthday rolled around. Neither of the boys had any friends at the moment, so instead it was going to be family only. Just the four of them. They knew that they would have to expose the boys to other people eventually, but that could wait a little while longer, until the boys were more used to them.
Slowly, quietly, Francis crept down the stairs to the kitchen. Matthew had a sweet tooth, but he had never had pancakes as of yet. So, a pancake breakfast with sweet maple syrup was the perfect way to start a birthday. Francis, as quietly as he could, pulled out the necessary equipment to make pancakes along with the right ingredients. Luckily now that Alfred was having less nightmares, both boys had started sleeping like logs throughout the night. They wouldn't wake to any quiet sounds anymore.
As Francis finished the breakfast, Arthur came down the stairs, already dressed and ready for the day.
"Oh good, your ready down here." Arthur said, "I'll just go wake up the boys."
Francis smiled, "Do you 'ave everyzing elze ready?" he asked.
Arthur huffed, "I should think so, we've been working on this for the last three weeks."
Francis chuckled as Arthur disappeared back up the stairs. In the short time the two of them had been taking care of the boys, Arthur had certainly taken to the role of 'Mother' quite easily. It was rather adorable.
"Alfred." Arthur cooed softly, laying a hand on the small boys shoulder, "It's time to get up."
Alfred groaned and rolled over to face Arthur, "What's going on?" he asked.
"We have to get up to celebrate Matthew's birthday today." Arthur said, "Don't you want to make your little brother feel special on his sixth birthday?"
Alfred didn't know much about birthdays, but he loved his brother very much, and any chance to show it was always taken. Alfred hopped out of bed and followed Arthur down the hall to his little brother's room. Matthew was still sleeping soundly, and Alfred really didn't like to wake him up (when they lived with Mother and Father, sleep was a rare thing), but they had been getting lots of sleep lately, so it should be okay.
"Matthew sweetheart, it's time to get up." Arthur said softly.
Matthew whimpered and woke up quickly, as he usually did. He blinked up at Arthur ho smiled down at him, "Happy birthday Matthew." he said.
Matthew tilted his head to one side, but Arthur just pulled him out of bed and led him and his brother downstairs where Francis was waiting for them with two plates full of steaming pancakes.
"Bonjour mes petits amours, et joyeux anniversaire mon Matthew doux [Hello my little loves, and happy birthday my sweet Matthew]." Francis said cheerily.
Neither of the boys really understood what a birthday was yet, but since it seemed to be a good thing, they didn't say anything and let Arthur and Francis pamper them. First Matthew, treating him to a very delicious breakfast of maple syrup covered pancakes (which Matthew instantly fell in love with), and a day filled with whatever he wanted and cake and gifts especially for him, then Alfred a few days later, who got to have hamburgers (which he claimed was the best thing he had ever tasted) and cake and gifts and whatever he wanted, much like Matthew had days previously.
As things were winding down on Alfred's birthday, they finally decided to ask what exactly a birthday was.
"What's a birthday?" Arthur repeated, eyebrows raising, "Oh yeah, I suppose neither of you have ever had anything like this ever before, so it would be a little confusing."
Matthew and Alfred titled their heads in confusion, but let Francis and Arthur pull them up onto the couch and onto their laps. They snuggled into the comforting chests of their guardians and let them explain while they ran their kind fingers through their blond locks.
"A birthday is like an anniversary of the day someone was born." Arthur said, stroking Matthew's curls.
"And when you celebrate it, it zignifiez zat you 'ave become a year older or zat you 'ave lived to see anozer year pazz." Francis continued, holding Alfred close to him.
"Oh, that makes sense." Matthew said, "So people celebrate birthdays to be happy that they lived another year."
"That's right. The people that care about you will often throw you a party like the ones we did for you." Arthur explained.
Alfred stared up at them, "Does that mean you care about us?" he asked quietly.
Francis smiled down at him and kissed his cheek, "Oui, we care about you boz very very much." he said.
Matthew and Alfred exchanged glances and smiled, "We care about you too." they said, snuggling deeper into their guardians chests.
Arthur and Francis looked p from their charges and smiled at each other. They shared a kiss, soft, sweet, but quick, and then returned to doting on their sweet, broken-but-healing, angels.
That night, before Alfred drifted off to sleep, he heard the tiny pattering of Matthew's footsteps coming down the hall. His door opened to show little Matthew peering through the doorway at him.
"Mattie, what's wrong?" Alfred asked, sitting up.
Matthew padded over and climbed up onto Alfred's bed with him, "Nothing's wrong." he said quietly, "I just wanted to see if you were the same way as me."
Alfred tilted his head to one side, "And how are you?"
And then Matthew broke out into a big, beautiful smile that lit up the entire room. Never had Alfred seen Matthew smile like that, it made him want to smile big and bright too.
"I'm happy." Matthew said, "I actually feel happy and warm and nice on the inside. It's like I can almost forget the bad stuff. I really, really like staying with Arthur and Francis. They make me feel . . . I don't know how to say it. they make me feel happy and strong and good on the inside, like it's all warm and fuzzy."
Alfred found himself smiling as well, "They make me feel like that too." he said.
Later in life, the two would figure out that what they felt was love. The love that gave unconditionally and without reason; the love parents doted upon their children and children doted upon their parents. The love that never, no matter where life took you, ever fades.
Author Commentary; Raaaah fail ending is fail, but I had to get this chapter out. Hope you enjoyed it.
Edit; Beefed up the ending. I'm much happier with it now.