The second Yao returned home, he could sense something was off. It wasn't the unfamiliar car in the driveway that let him know something was different nor the fact that there wasn't anyone greeting him once he walked through the door. There was just something in the atmosphere.

"Hello?" Yao hesitantly called. He knew somebody had to be home; Arthur's car was still in the driveway beside the unfamiliar one. By now, usually one of the kids would at least come, but nothing. "I'm home…" the Chinese man said a bit more quietly, curious. Not even Long came.

Yao removed his shoes and set down his backpack. He wandered the floor of the empty house, looking for anybody. He finally stumbled upon someone. Someone he didn't expect to see in a millions years in his house sitting on his couch.

"…Bella…?"

Bella perked up when hearing her name being called, standing and turning to where it came from. Her eyes widened when seeing who was there. "Yao?" The two of them had met before when Bella and Arthur were still together, Yao being just a friend then.

"What are you doing here?" Yao awkwardly asked. He scanned the room a bit, looking for Arthur.

Bella was just about to ask Yao the same thing, but then she thought about Xiang for a second. Xiang was Arthur's stepson and Chinese. Yao was Chinese and standing right before her. She put two and two together, but still allowed her eyes to scan Yao's left hand. A band was present on the fourth finger.

"So," Bella started, not answering Yao's question. "You two got together?"

Yao's jaw clenched, suddenly hiding his left hand behind his back. He coughed a bit to clear his throat before speaking again. "Y-yes…" he awkwardly answered.

A few moments after Yao gave his answer, heavy quick footsteps could be heard rushing downstairs. Arthur. "Yao."

Yao turned to the Englishman. His expression was normal, yet blank. Unreadable. "What's going on here, Arthur?" Yao asked, still no change in his usual voice, which was unsettling for Arthur. "No one told me we were having company aru."

"I'm sorry," Bella started, gaining the others' attention. "I came by unannounced. I just wanted to talk with Arthur."

"Oh," was all Yao could respond before turning back to Arthur. "And where are the kids?"

"They're all in Dylan's room right now, and X-Xiang's in his room with Long," Arthur answered, stuttering when speaking of the only teenager in the house.

"Alright," Yao said with a nod. He wasn't going to question the silence. Yet. "Shall I prepare some tea and snacks?" he offered, heading into the kitchen.

Arthur followed his spouse as he spoke. "No, that isn't necessary. She was just going." Bella wasn't, but Arthur's words hinted her to leave. However, when Arthur entered the kitchen, he froze. Yao was looking intensely at the floor. The tin of tea that Xiang had dropped was still there, forgotten with some of the contents spilled out. Slowly, Yao reached down and brought the can back up, still staring at the tin.

"I can clean all this up, Yao," Arthur said with slight nervousness. He headed towards the spilt tea leaves on the ground with a dust pan and broom, but Yao didn't pay must attention.

"Arthur, what's going on?" Yao finally asked, directing his intense look to his spouse.

Arthur tried to answer, but his words were caught in his throat. He ended up looking like a fish with no words leaving his opening and closing mouth.

"Eh hem," a false cough was made. Yao and Arthur turned, seeing Bella standing before them. "I think I'll show myself out. It was very nice seeing you again, Yao." She then turned to her ex-husband. "Arthur, I'm truly sorry for all the trouble I've caused. All of it. I really hope we can speak again soon. I hadn't said all I wanted to say..."

Bella turned, heading for the door. No one stopped her. After the door was heard closing behind the Belgian woman, Yao started question Arthur again.

"What was she doing here?" Yao instantly asked. He caught that Bella was only saying 'nice seeing you again' out of obligation.

"She just wanted to talk to me," Arthur answered. He could tell his spouse was upset.

"About what aru?"

"Light conversation mainly. How things have been, the kids, the past..."

Yao sighed at the solemn look on Arthur's face as his voice was quieting down. He turned away from him, but Yao only brought Arthur's face back to him with a soft hand cupping his cheek. "I'm sorry. I just remember what happened and don't want you hurt again." Yao brought his arms up, hugging Arthur tightly. He then give the taller man a comforting kiss.

When Yao was kissing him, Arthur couldn't help but think back to what happened earlier. Bella had kissed him as well, sparking Xiang's rage that lead to his own children's anguish. When Yao pulled back, Arthur couldn't help keep his eyes down either. He couldn't tell him about the kiss. Didn't know how to. So, Arthur kept quiet for now. Maybe Yao didn't have to know, didn't have to find out.

As Yao was pulling his arms away, Arthur tightly gripped him back into a tight hug, surprising him a bit. "I love you..." Arthur mumbled into Yao's neck, turning his surprised look into a soft smile.

Yao rewrapped his arms around Arthur. "I love you, too..." he returned softly.

After letting go, Yao headed upstairs. He wanted to see how the others were doing with Bella having been there.

Arthur was a tad nervous. No doubt Xiang was going to be on his father's side. He realized Yao would be even more upset if he heard about the sudden kiss from Xiang and not by his own words.

"Yao, I need to tell you something," Arthur said hastily, even though he didn't quite have the courage he needed. But Yao didn't hear him.

Upon stepping on the second floor, Yao noticed Xiang's door closed. The feeling of something not being right returned. Yao knew Xiang rarely ever closed his door. Only if he was playing his music loudly—which there wasn't any playing now—, if the kids were playing too loud— again, that wasn't the case—, or if he was upset. Ruling the first two out, Yao headed straight for Xiang's staircase.

"Xiang," Yao called, testing the door. Locked. He cursed silently under his breath. "Xiang, it's me aru. Open up."

"He wants to be left alone, Yao," Arthur sadly said, still worried about his stepson.

Yao didn't stop. Even though it was rare, this wasn't the first time his son was upset like this. Yao brought out his phone, sending Xiang a text message. Xiang definitely had his headphones on loudly, thus not hearing him call for him, but Xiang would be able to feel his phone vibrate in his pocket. Not long after the text was sent, Yao heard the lock on the door click unlocked.

"Xiang…?" Yao called, popping his head through the door first. There Xiang was, sitting on the ground beside his bed, Long whimpering on his bed behind him. His son's headphones were on, canceling out outside noises as his attention was focused on his game. A clear sign Xiang was not doing well.

Yao walked up to Xiang, taking a seat beside him. "What's wrong aru?"

Xiang let out an angry sigh, closing his 3DS. When he looked back up, he saw Arthur at the door first. "Why don't you ask him?" he hissed in Chinese.

Yao furrowed his brows in confusion, turning to Arthur. "What's going on…?"

Arthur avoided Yao's gaze. He didn't know what Xiang said, but he had a good feeling. "Yao, can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Oh, so you haven't told him?" Xiang growled along with Long. "Or were you planning to keep this to yourself?"

"Xiang, not now," Arthur sternly said even with things not looking good for him.

"Tell me what?" Yao hesitantly asked aloud, turning back and forth from his son and husband.

"The kiss," Xiang furiously said, still looking directly at Arthur. "He freaking kissed her!"

"I didn't kiss her; she kissed me!" Arthur couldn't help but yell back.

"So you don't deny there was a kiss?"

"This is just a misunderstanding! It didn't mean anything!"

"But you didn't stop it until I came out."

"Arthur…" Yao quietly started, slowly standing back up. "Is this all true?"

Arthur could feel his insides crumble by the crushed look on Yao's face.

"W-well, yes, but let me explain‒"

"Why didn't you try to explain before aru?"

"Yao‒"

"When were you going to tell me? Or were you really going to keep this from me?"

"Just let me explain!"

Yao didn't want to hear any more. He brushed passed his spouse, unable to look him in the eye, as he headed out of Xiang's room.

"Yao!" Arthur called after him, following out as well. "Please! Just listen to me!"

"I don't want to hear anything right now, Arthur," Yao managed to say with his voice hoarse. He continued down, Arthur still right behind.

"You have to me, Yao," Arthur cried out. "Please, I don't want fight with you or hurt you."

Behind a closed door opening up a crack, Dylan stood and watched in horror. Watching the two of them hurt and arguing just reminded him of his parents' fighting, how it lead to their divorce. He didn't want that to happen again.

Dylan turned back to his younger siblings, seeing them all fast asleep. They had cried themselves to sleep and Dylan was glad they weren't conscious for what was going on now.

When the Australian boy turned back to the hallway, he saw Xiang slowly creeping down his stairway, standing in the middle of the hallway. Dylan could see his stepbrother's eyes were still fueled with anger. When Xiang turned and saw him peeking through his door, Dylan gasped, shutting the door with his back against it.

Dylan was a bit shaky, but he took a deep breath to try and calm himself down. After gaining his breath back, the boy reopened the door a crack, but it looked like Xiang had gone back to his room judging by the closed door. Dylan had to bite his quivering lip, doing his best to hold down his whimpering and tears.

I'll try to get last part out tomorrow so i can post fluffy holiday chapters! Arthur's past marriage stuff to be revealed! And I'm thinking of adding chapter title and characters in the summary now. Good idea?