Matthew ran home with a large smile. He had gone after school to meet with Natalia for try outs, her only response was "Why didn't you try out earlier?" Nothing had ever felt this good to him. He swung the door open and ran inside, dumping his backpack on the floor and running into the living room where he stepped on his large dog by accident.

The sound of whimpering and apologies from the quiet teen made both Francine and Gilbert look up. Matthew stood straight and held a quirky smile as his face was flushed red with what Gilbert can only guess as excitement. "Mom, I-" he started only to start stuttering out incomprehensible words.

"V-vash left a-a-and E-Eduardo a-a-and Ivan a-and-"

"Matthew, honey, calm down. What happened?" Francine asked as she stood and walked towards him. Gilbert stayed behind and watched from the couch.

"I'm in the team! Mom, I made the hockey team at school!" he blurted out excitedly.

A loud gasp escaped Francine and she hugged the teen that was nearly taller than her already. "Congratulations!" She said as she placed kisses on his face. "I knew you could do it!"

Gilbert smiled from his spot. He loved watching their interaction. Something about seeing Matthew so excited about this made him feel proud as well. "I knew you could do it, Matthew!" He said from his spot.

Matthew turned to him and nodded, a large smile still plastered onto his face. That face. That face of pure, unfiltered happiness. Something inside Gilbert changed and he felt immediately taken aback. He loved this boy as well. It was as if he was his own son. He couldn't help the smile that came onto his face as he felt it heat up.

He covered his face and turned to his phone in hopes to calm down. "Let's go out for ice-cream!" Francine announced.

"Before dinner?" Gilbert asked with a smirk.

"Forget dinner. We can order pizza later. Oh, lets watch movies together too!" Matthew nodded in agreement as Gilbert chuckled. These two were the cutest pair of mother and son.

Only a few hours later and he stared at the screen that played the movie with the nearly empty two boxes of pizza at the table. Francine was leaned against him while Matthew sat in front of them on the floor, the pizza being devoured in large bites as his eyes stayed glued to the television and Kuma laying on his lap.

This was the moment, Gilbert realized he couldn't be happier with this small family. He thought he would be miserable if he was ever in a long term relationship, even more so with kids. But this is the exact opposite. He wanted this more than anything and he didn't ever want too loose them.

With that thought, he placed his hand around Francine and pulled her closer before resting his hand onto her growing stomach. He placed soft kisses on her head before snuggling her closely and smiling to himself.

Arthur sat in his desk watching as the other students passed notes and giggled to each other as the teacher rambled on and on. He would cast his eyes down and tug at his sleeves to hide any evidence of the night prior. He knew it was pathetic to say, but he felt contempt with being alone in his class. He bit his lip as it quivered and looked down, only scribbling on his notebook as time went by and by.

By the time the school day ended, he felt exhausted. He felt the familiar rumbling in his stomach and dug through his pocket for any loose change. Pulling out various coins and two dollar bills, he counted three dollars and sixty-two cents.

His face turned into a frown just before a glass door opened in front of him, nearly hitting him. Two kids ran out giggling, a cone in their hands and the melting treat seeping onto their fingers where they would just lick it up. An ice-cream shop.

He couldn't recall the last time he had indulged into the sweet treat so with his pocket change, he made his way inside. He was met with a cool room and a blonde teenager sitting at the register.

"Hey, little dude!" The teen said. Arthur flashed a slight shade of red and looked at the menu revealing he prices. "What'll it be?" Alfred said gesturing to the different flavors.

Arthur looked to the expensive prices and frowned. "Just one scoop of Vanilla," he said taking out his only money. The teen went to hand the boy his ice-cream, but as his sleeves moved up, purple marks revealed just below the hemming.

He pulled the treat away just before Arthur could grab it and gave him a sorrowful smile. Arthur raised an eyebrow with an irritated expression. "Do ya like rainbow sherbert?" Alfred asked.

"What?" Arthur questioned. Alfred ignored him and proceeded to get a large scoop of the colorful treat before plopping it onto the cone. "Hold on, you bloody idiot! I-I can't pay for that," Arthur yelled out, turning a slight red.

"That's alright. It's on me," Alfred said with a soft smile. He urged Arthur for the treat and he shakily took it. "Why?" He asked suspiciously. Alfred only frowned and patted his head. "I hope things turn out much better for you."

Arthur's eyes widened and cast down as they watered. "T-thanks" he muttered before leaving the shop. He took a lick at the colorful treat and felt his mouth burst with flavor. He had forgotten how sweet it was. He became so lost in the flavor that he didn't notice the car pull up beside him. He jumped visably when it honked. He turned with a scowl to see the familiar blue car with the window rolling down.

Right in the passenger seat sat the oddest person he had ever seen. The young man had a large smirk with platinum blonde hair. He was pale and his red-violet eyes looked as if he wore contacts to hide his natural eye color. Whether the color was blue or red, was a mystery to Arthur. "Bonjour, Arthur! Are you heading home?"

Arthur had been so lost in looking in this new man, he had completely forgotten who's car was right beside him. Just behind the stranger was Francis waving him to get closer. "I am," he responded plainly.

"Get in, I'll drop you off," Francis said.

Arthur snorted. "Why would I get into a car with you,frog? I can just yell for help and they'll think you're trying to kidnap me."

A loud laugh erupted from the stranger. Francis frowned behind him. "Shut up, Gil. Who on Earth would want to kidnap you? You are so uncute," Francis whined.

Arthur stayed staring at the stranger who was still snickering. "This kid is great! Get in!" Gilbert said.

Arthur hesitated before climbing the back seat where he found another man. This one was tan skinned with chocolate curls and bright green eyes. "Wow! so this is Arthur. You really do look like your mother," he said with a large smile. Arthur noticably frowned and sat with a scowl as he ate his ice-cream.

"Why the long face? I'd be happy with an ice-cream that big," Antonio said with his large smile.

"I bet that stupid smile will stay on even if I threw it at your face too," Arthur said. Something about this man just struck him the wrong way.

"What?" Antonio asked, his expression darkening slightly. Arthur rolled his eyes and looked out the window instead.

"Mon ami, leave Arthur alone," Francis told his friend.

...

Arthur had finished his treat by the time they arrived at his home. Francis walked out with him as Gilbert waved him goodbye. Upon entering his home, Francis stared at the dark home that appeared to be empty. "Ehm. Where is your mom?" he asked confused.

"How should I know? She's never home at this hour," Arthur responded coldly as he walked in. Francis sighed and grabbed onto Arthur's shoulder.

"Then come on. I can't leave you alone without dinner. We're going to my house, so change out of your uniform and take your homework."

"Why do you care? I can be alone, I'm not a kid," Arthur responded.

"Change and take your homework," Francis repeated sternly. Arthur sighed and gave in. He didn't want to go hungry today again.

He stood in his room and removed his shirt. He stared at the bruises on his arms and sighed before grabbing a large old t-shirt and a jacket. Grabbing his book bag, he made his way back to see Francis still waiting. "Let's go" he said leading the two back towards the car.

Dinner came and went with the trio being as rowdy as usual, much to the annoyance f Arthur. He couldn't believe how immature these three adults were. He sighed and sat at the coffee table with the television playing music videos to keep him distracted from the talk of the adults while he did homework.

"She's getting so much thicker. God it's so sexy," Gilbert said

"Eh? Do you still do it that often?" Antonio asked.

It fell silent and Gilbert paled slightly. "You don't?" Francis asked shocked.

"We haven't since the first time," Gilbert admitted almost shyly.

"What?!" the other two said in shock. "Mon ami, passion is important to express. Show her that you still want her before she get's the wrong idea."

"She hasn't made any hints about it," Gilbert said unsure.

"Yet," said Antonio. "Just wait until those hormones kick in. It's going to get crazy."

"B-but, I couldn't possibly. I mean..the baby," Gilbert said uncomfortably.

"Mon Ami, nothing will happen to the baby," Francis reassured.

"That's right. In fact some couples still go at it a week before the due date. Perfectly normal, healthy even," Antonio said.

"See that, Gil. Take it from a real nurse," Francis said with a wink. Gilbert flushed a bright red and nodded. "I-I will if she wants," Gilbert said.

"Good. Now, more importantly. Lovi asked me to go to his career day! This is fantastic, it means he is accepting me!" Antonio said so excitedly.

"Congrats. This calls for a celebration," Gilbert said taking out three beers. "Wine for me," Francis said, Antonio agreeing.

"Then why have beer?" Gil asked.

"For you," Francis said like it was the most obvious thing ever. "You're a true friend," Gilbert said touched.

Francis waved goodbye to his friends as Ludwig picked them up and looked to the boy sleeping on the couch, the textbook still open. He sighed and texted Amanda that Arthur would spend the night. He looked at the previous text that he sent when he first took the boy to his home. She had yet to even respond. He wondered what she was so busy with.

He moved the textbook to the table and carried the teen with much struggle to the guest room. He gathered a blanket and went back to remove his shoes before working on his jacket.

'I should burn this hideous outfit,' he thought to himself before spotting a large purple mark on his forearm. He gently took his arm, inspecting the other bruises. His eyes followed up to his torso where he hesitantly lifted the boy's shirt.

It wasn't only the bruises and old scars that took his breath away. His pale and thin torso revealed just how often he was left unfed. He knew he had sensed something off but this was so much worse than anticipated. His eyes glassed over and he gently put his shirt down. He stared at his sleeping figure before biting his lower lip.

With the large jacket in his hands, he stood and placed it onto the chair by the door before covering the teen with the blanket and closing the door. He sat at the table, his eyes still watering. He had no idea that this was how Arthur lived. He considered calling the police right there and then but they would have taken the poor boy away. He would've been terrified.

"Mon dieu," he sighed as he buried his face into his hands. He would wait it out and speak to Arthur before talking to Amanda. Perhaps it wasn't what he though. Perhaps they could work things out. If not.. He would have to apologize to Arthur for calling the police.

A/N: Sorry this took a while. My computer deleted it so I had to re-write. I feel bad for torturing Arthur! I'm so sorry Arthur, I love you!