A/N: Ooooh, it feels like forever since I last updated. So, here comes some serious answers. Some more Alan and some more cute Eric and Ronnie being cute. Slightly shorter, but I didn't want to pad it out with filler. I'll make up for it later. Thank you for all your lovely reviews last chapter, please keep them coming darlings.

"You're so pretty, mister." Alan was rather relieved when the young girl bounced over and pulled the gag out of his mouth, letting it hang around his neck. She smiled and climbed up onto his lap, taking a hair brush from the table and running it through his hair. "Your hair is so soft and pretty. I bet it'd be even prettier if I gave you a bath. What's your name, mister?"

"Alan," he said quietly. "What's your name?"

"Christina," the girl said. "You have really pretty hair."

"You said," Alan replied. She smiled and carried on brushing through his hair. "Christina, do you know what that shadow is?" She nodded. "Can you tell me?"

"He's a demon," she said.

Alan nodded slowly. "Do you know what he's after?"

"He protects me," she said. "He gives me my dollies."

"Do you know what he wants with me?" She shook her head quickly and Alan nodded slightly. "What about Ronald?"

"I don't know a Ronald. Is he pretty too?"

"I think he's good looking, yes," Alan admitted quietly. He reminded him of Eric. "I'm not sure I'd say pretty but definitely good looking."

"I just want pretty dollies."

Alan nodded slightly. Christina just smiled and carried on brushing his hair before braiding small parts and weaving ribbons into his hair too. Alan could only put up with it. It was better to be toyed with by a child than that shadow really, wasn't it? Whatever it wanted from Ronald, he had no way of warning them anyway. He was stuck here and who knew what the demon would do with him once he had Ronald?

The door opened slowly and the shadow demon walked in. It strode over and caught his chin but Christina shoved him off, wrapping her arms possessively around him. At least he was a little safer now. The shadow just smirked.

"Now, now, don't get too attached," he said quietly. "You know he's going to have to leave soon."

"What are you going to do with me?" Alan said, glaring up at him.

"I would have thought that was obvious by now," he replied. "You're not to be harmed because there's no value in damaged goods."

Value? Goods? Just what was he going to do with him when he had Ronald? The possibilities were spinning through his mind and he had to force himself to remain calm. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Really?" he laughed, twisting a few strands of Alan's hair around his fingers. "And I thought you were the smart one. It seems it is Mr Spears I'll have to worry about in that respect." He jumped forwards and both Alan and Christina were sent flying into the wall as he struck him across the face. Christina sat there crying and the shadow approached Alan, tangling his hand into his hair and dragging him up to him feet. "You dear Eric will give anything to save you and protect you." Alan's eyes widened as the realisation hit him. "The penny finally drops. Eric would willingly trade Ronald's life for yours and when he then comes chasing after him to save him, as he inevitably will, he'll fall right into my hands and I can make him suffer, even though you'll no doubt warn him it's a trap."

Alan wanted to deny it, tell it that Eric would never be so stupid, that he'd never give up Ronald's life just for him. But he would. Of course he would. Stupid, loving Eric would do anything to keep him safe. And of course he'd think that he could just trade Ronald and he'd go after him and save him. He wouldn't listen if Alan warned him. Eric might have seemed cold sometimes but he was loving and caring and he would fight to save Ronald no matter what.

"He won't," he hissed. "He won't fall for your trap."

"We both know he will," the shadow replied. He pulled him back over to the chair and sat him down. "All you need to do is sit and behave. You'll be home soon enough."

He smiled and turned away, shutting the door firmly behind him. Alan could only stare after him. They were in so much danger and he could do nothing to help. Christina whimpered and hurried over, leaning on his lap and crying softly. For someone trying to protect her, he was rather cruel. She sighed and quickly brushed her tears away.

"Would you like to see my new dolly?" she whispered. "I've been working on the designs for ages. She's going to be so beautiful."

"Umm, sure, ok."

She scrambled up to her feet and opened up a trunk, pulling out a box of papers and setting them on the table for Alan to see. They were dress designs and hair styles. "See, I've been working on them forever. Aren't they beautiful?"

"Yeah, they are," Alan said. They really were. Every design was detailed and the height of human fashion. "You designed all these?" She nodded quickly. "They're amazing."

She scurried over to the trunk and pulled out a few more boxes, getting up on the bed and pulling out the dresses and hats she'd designed. "He helped me, but I did most the work. Do you think my dolly will like them?"

"I'm sure she will. What does your doll look like? The one you're getting?"

"Oh, she's so pretty, but she needs to grow her hair. See."

She pulled open the curtains to show him the picture she'd been working on when he came in and all the others around the room. Alan's gut wrenched. They were so detailed and life like. Like they were just photos. Just snap shots of day to day life but they were Ronald. With Eric and Alan himself, and the others, dating back to his academy days, when Alan had first met him. Christina smiled and ran her fingers over Ronald's face in the picture.

"Isn't she beautiful?" Christina whispered. "My dolly."

"You're so distracting, Ronald," Eric said quietly. Ronald smiled and leant back against the door to Alan's apartment, in Eric's way and quite plainly refusing to move until he got what he wanted. "And pouty. Which is adorable."

Ronald blushed slightly and Eric leant down, gently pressing their lips together. "I'm not adorable. How many times do I have to say it?"

Eric laughed softly, claiming his mouth once more. Ronald's arms slid around his neck, pulling him close and ignoring everyone else in the hall. Eric didn't care who knew he was with Ronald. He honestly didn't care. He wanted them to know. He wanted them to know he cared about Ronald, he wasn't just using him. But, course Ronald was afraid of the rumours. As Ronald pulled him close, Eric discreetly slid the key to Alan's apartment into the lock. He pushed open the door and couldn't help laughing and Ronald fell back to the floor.

"Adorable," he said, stepping over him. "Face it, kid."

"Shut up."

He climbed back to his feet and shut the door before joining Eric at the bookcase. Alan had a lot of books, he liked collecting them. Ronald wandered away slightly, looking over the pictures from on the sideboard. Eric glanced over as Ronald picked up one of the photos. It was him and Alan, holding each other and laughing. Ronald set it down and turned away. Without thinking, Eric pulled him into his arms, holding him tightly and stroking his hair. He needed Ronald to know, as much as he needed their co-worker to know, no more than that, he was never going to use him like that.

"Don't think about it too much," he murmured into his hair. "It's over between me and him. It's taken he long enough to deal with that. I want you, Ronald."

Ronald nodded slowly and nuzzled against him. He held him tightly, trying to reassure and calm the younger blonde. His poor Ronald. Was he always going to feel like he was in Alan's shadow?

"Come on, let's find that book and get home."

He pulled Ronald gently back to the bookcase. He wasn't keen on letting Ronald wander off again. He kept his arm around his waist as he looked over the titles. Somewhere along the lines, Ronald had managed to slip off again. But he was keeping a quiet eye on Ronald. He didn't want Ronald to get too upset by being here. He knew it was awkward to be in his ex's home. Ronald obviously tried to be ok with Alan, he acted like it wasn't a probable that Eric cared so much for Alan still. Once Alan was back, they could work on it.

"Eric, did you ever sleep with Alan in here?" Ronald muttered, pouring them each a coffee.

"He was staying with me when we were together and he moved out when we broke up."

That meant nothing. Eric knew Ronald was still watching him silently as he came over with the coffee. Where the hell was Alan keeping this book? It was nowhere to be found on the bookcase. Alan had far too many books hidden around. He sighed and took the coffee from him, sipping it slowly.

He leant back on the back of the couch and noticed Ronald's gaze was still focused on him. Yes, there were times when he and Alan had ended up in here, in bed together. Alan kept saying it wouldn't happen again, that they were too close and it was difficult to be without him but it was over. Eric kept getting his hopes up. And Ronald knew, didn't he? He looked at him so knowingly it was obvious.

Eric sighed and leant down to peck his lips. "Wanna go see if it's in the bedroom?"

Ronald nodded and headed off into the bedroom. There was a smash and Eric glanced up. Ronald had dropped his mug and was staring into the room. Eric frowned and strode over.

"Ron-"

His words caught in his mouth. Ronald was trembling slightly. "If Alan's gone on holiday, why are his bags still here?"

Eric shoved Ronald out of the room and shut the door, leaning heavily against it. There was a churning in the pit of his stomach. Had that shadow got Alan? Had his involvement with Ronald and the shadow got Alan kidnapped, hurt, maybe worse? Ronald was calling to him through the door. He couldn't answer, but there was the book he wanted. Lying there on the bedside table under a mug of half empty coffee. He picked up the book and opened the door once more.

Ronald stumbled in and Eric caught him with one arm, helping him back up and leading him out of the apartment. The boy looked lost, but Eric just pulled him along behind him. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. If Ronald had just opened up to him sooner… If Alan had told him about the Thorns… Alan didn't even know about the shadow. Who knew what could happen to him?

"I'm sorry, Eric," Ronald whispered.

"You couldn't have known," Eric growled. "It's not your fault. It wants to get to us and we're not going to let it, understand?" Ronald whimpered and nodded. Eric nodded and pushed open the door to their home. "Ronald, I mean it. It's trying to hurt me and push us apart. If you start feeling guilty and I start getting angry at you, that's what it wants. We're not going to let that happen. This thing is doing this to you for no reason. You have nothing to feel guilty about and it has no right to be doing this. Ok? We're going to find out what it is, and we're going to stop it and save Alan. Got it?"

Ronald nodded and Eric pulled him inside, slamming the door and reached down, guiding Ronald's lips to his. What if this shadow asked him to trade Ronald's life for Alan? Could he do that? Could he let either of them down like that? He didn't want to let Ronald go, his sweet little Ronald, he couldn't let him go but he couldn't let Alan get hurt by that thing either.

"So… I guess we should try and figure out what this demon is and then wait and see what William comes back with."

Ronald nodded again, still silent. He pulled Ronald down to sit with him and opened up the book, letting the youngster lie against his shoulder. As he flickered through the pages, Eric ran his fingers through his hair reassuringly. He wouldn't just let him go. He'd do everything he could to keep both Ronald and Alan safe but what if he had to make a decision? What if he had to make a choice?

"Wait, wait," Ronald said suddenly, putting his hands on the pages. "I recognise that one." Eric stopped and glanced down at the page. "That's… No, she's a nurse I hooked up with once."

"You're hooking up with demons now?" he said quietly.

"I-I didn't know," he stammered. "It was just after this all started. I was a dumb, freaked out kid and I didn't know how to tell the difference between a human and demon yet, ok? I didn't know any better."

"She's one of triplets," he said, looking through the pages. "You think they have anything to do with this?"

"I don't know."

He sighed and hugged Ronald close, kissing his forehead. Poor little Ronald. "It's ok, we'll figure it out. Don't worry."

He returned his attention to the book once more, reading quietly. Two nurses and a doctor who specialised in causing their victims pain and then looking after them and nursing them back to health to prolong their suffering. Ronald closed his eyes and Eric kissed his cheek.

"Want to go to bed? You look kind of tired."

"I'm ok," he whispered. "Not unless you're coming with me." He nodded and continued stroking his hair gently. "Hey… want to take me to bed?"

"Take you to bed?" Eric said quietly, glancing down at him. He knew what Ronald was asked, he just wasn't sure they should. Ronald ran his hands through his hair, gently turning him to face him. He knew exactly what Ronald was asking, but he didn't know if it was right yet. "Ronald… when this is over…" He sighed and took Ronald's hand kissing the back of it. "When this is over and you're safe, ok?"

"Fine," Ronald said with a pout.

"Stop that," he murmured. "You really don't help to yourself. You should learn that pouting like that is remarkably cute. Fine, come on. Let's go to bed. William can wake us up if he wants something."

Ronald nodded slowly and Eric led him back towards his room. The youngster was soon curled up in bed. Eric smiled down at him as Ronald drifted off but he couldn't settle. His mind was still racing. Alan hadn't gone on holiday, that shadow probably had him. What was he supposed to do? He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. Ronald was in danger and now Alan was too. He sighed and picked up the book of demons once more, reading through every detail of every demon in there, looking for anything that might sound familiar. The chances of the demon being in this book were slim, there were so many of them, these were just common ones that people need to

How was he supposed to save him? How was he supposed save either of them? Ronald groaned softly and rolled over, nuzzling against his side. Eric smiled weakly and stroked his hair. He had so many questions. Why had this thing even chosen Ronald? The sooner he could figure all this out the sooner he could save Alan. There had to be something in this stupid book.

It was the early hours of the morning when Eric finally found something. It was the same symbol and charm that they'd found in the music box. And it belonged to a little girl in a pretty dress with long black hair. Ronald had said he'd seen a woman with black hair and that she vanished when he told his senior. Was that even possible? He'd never seen a child demon but he'd heard they were powerful and often unstable. Had Ronald got involved with this girl somehow?

"Ronald," he hissed, shaking him. "Ronald, wake up and look at this." Ronald groaned opened his eyes a little. "Ronald, look at this for me."

He held Ronald's glasses so he could peer through them and tilted the book. "That's the girl I keep seeing."

"Good boy," he said quietly. "You can go back to sleep."

Ronald nodded drowsily and closed his eyes once more, slipping his hand into Eric's. Eric couldn't help smiling. How could someone who'd been through so much be so adorable? Things would get better soon, he was sure. He just needed to figure out how to make it happen. He needed to figure something out. For Ronald and for Alan.