Arthur sighs as he studies the blonde teen across the room. To anyone else, Lukas may appear disinterested, sitting plainly as he is, not looking up from the book in his hand, but Arthur knows differently. He learnt long ago to read the subtle changes in his old friends countenance, the minuscule furrow in his brow, the hard look he gives the book, eyes fixed on a single point as he's clearly not actually reading it, his hard grip on it and his stiff back as he sits all tell Arthur one thing.

"Your angry with me."

"I'm not angry with you." The sharp clap of the book shutting heavily contrasts the others calm voice, "I'm angry at you."

Huffing through his nose, Arthur slinks his way over to sit opposite the blonde. He slumps in his seat, murmuring, "I'm sorry."

Finally the other looks over at him, eyes betraying his true emotions.

"I'm not looking for an apology Art, I want to know why?"

"Why... I ran?"

"No," Lukas' brow twitches as he stares the other down, "not why you ran. That I understand. I want to know why you didn't tell me first." Arthur blinks at that, not having expected such a question, "I'm your friend, I could have helped you. We could have."

An uncomfortable silence fills the room between them as Lukas waits for Arthur to explain himself.

Sighing heavily, Arthur leans forward to rest his elbows on the table, knitting his hands and resting his head against them.

"I didn't want to get you involved. You know what my fathers like. If he knew you helped me, he'd cause nothing but trouble for all of you. You don't deserve that."

"Don't you think I could have made that decision for myself?"

Surprised, Arthur looks up to see his old friend finally smiling at him, as subtle as it is.

"I would have helped you, you know."

Returning the smile, Arthur nods, "Yeah, I know."

They both chuckle, the tension easily dissolving between them.

That's one thing Arthur has always valued about Lukas, he's perceptive. Little words are needed to express themselves between each other, and for someone as socially awkward as Arthur was for most of his young life (and still is at times), it just made sense that he and Lukas became fast friends.

However, there is still questions that need to be answered between them, and Arthur knows he owes Lukas an explanation.

Both sensing the inevitable, Lukas ventures to ask, "So, does this mean your going back?"

Sighing again, Arthur sits back to look up at the tall decorative ceiling.

"Honestly? I'm not sure. I know I can't keep avoiding it, Dad's going to end up running me down soon or later."

"He knows your back then?"

"Of course he knows." Arthur grumbles, before relaxing again, "And even if he didn't, running won't solve anything, I know that now."

There's a pause, before Lukas poses a new question, "And the kid with you?"

"Who, Al?" Arthur can't help but smile at the mention of Alfred as a kid, "He's a trainer I met a while back, shortly after I came back to Eprus."

"Does he know?" Arthur doesn't need him to clarify.

"No. Honestly I'm surprised, I thought everyone here knew about my family." He chuckles, "It's just my luck, to end up travel partners with the one clueless bone head around."

Lukas hums in thought, "Or perhaps we give the Kirkland name too much credit. After all, how long has it been since one such as yourself was around?"

Frowning in thought for a moment Arthur considers the question, trying to remember what he'd been taught, "Seven generations before me, twelve since the last successful one."

"Well it make sense then, you we're on T.V not to long ago and no one accosted you then did they?"

"You saw that?" Lukas just gives him a faint smile, not needing to answer, "Well... that's not entirely true. I'm sure Berwald told you?"

"I would rather hear it from you."

Huffing annoyedly, Arthur crosses his arms and grumpily stares across at his friend, "I told you, my Dad knows I'm back. Made Berwald give me a message." When Arthur stops Lukas only gives him an expectant look, waiting patiently until the other finally cracks, "He's waiting."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"So he still wants you to do the ceremony then."

"Of course he does. That's all I've ever been to him, ever since he dumped me out in that forest."

There's another round of silence in which Arthur fumes before Lukas switches topics again.

"What about your brothers? It's been a while."

"Like they care." Arthur huffs.

"I think you give them too little credit."

"Hardly."

Lukas hums, pretending to be deep in thought.

"You know, Alistair looked everywhere for you when you first vanished. Charged in here demanding to know were you where. Left his post to Rhys for a whole month searching for you." Lukas smirks at the clear surprise on his friends face, "That doesn't sound like the actions of someone who doesn't care to me."

Lukas sits happily watching his old friend grumble to himself under his breath, most of which is inaudible, but he does catch a few words, mostly curses and his brothers names pop up more than a few times.

It may have been four years since they last saw each other, but their still just the same as ever. It's just like old times, and even though he's not the best at showing it, he knows Arthur can tell he's glad. It's almost as if no time at all has past.

The sound of the door opening draws their attention, both looking over in time to see a curious blonde head with a bird perched on top poke round the door.

"There you are Artie! I wondered where you ran off too!" Alfred cries happily, ignoring the usual complaint at the nickname as he bounds into the room, before halting at seeing Lukas.

"Oh, uh, hi again." He shifts a bit uncomfortably, remembering the awkward car ride.

"Oh, right, I didn't tell you. Alfred, this is an old friend of mine, Lukas."

"Friend? Wait, so you know each other?" Al is clearly confused, given the icy atmosphere from before, as to why now Arthur is calling the other his friend.

"It's a bit of a long story."

"We had somethings to clear up." Lukas adds cryptically.

"Still," Arthur stands, "we should probably introduce you to everyone if you haven't met them already."

Also rising Lukas nods, "That would be best. Berwald is out dealing with preparation for the tournament, but Tino should be about, probably in the kitchen. Mathias should be back soon, and Emil should be around somewhere too, probably in his room."

At the mention of a kitchen, Alfred's stomach grumbles loudly.

"Opps, hehe..." Al laughs awkwardly.

"Kitchen it is then." Arthur smirks, shaking his head at the younger.

"I'll go see where everyone else is."

XoxoxoxoxoxoX

"Tino?"

Just like Lukas said, the pair find the older blonde man in the large kitchen on the ground floor, the smell of something cooking filling the room.

Spinning around holding a bowl of some kind of batter, violet eyes widen and the man gasps.

"Arthur! Oh it's been so long!"

The bowl is carefully tossed aside as the man rushes to embrace the blonde in a crushing hug.

"Ah! It's good to see you too..." Arthur gasps out, remembering how strong Tino is.

"Look at you, you've grown, your taller than me now! When Ber said he'd seen you and told me to turn on the T.V I could hardly believe it." Finally releasing him, Tino smiles brightly up at him, "It's so good to have you back."

Smiling sheepishly, Arthur steps back a bit, gesturing to Alfred.

"Tino, this is Alfred, a friend I'm traveling with. Al, this is Tino, an old friend."

"Don't be so formal Arthur, we're family! It's lovely to meet you Alfred."

"Nice to meet you too!" Alfred gives his signature grin as he sticks out his hand to shake, instantly getting along with the older man.

The pleasantries are interrupted however, by Alfred's stomach once again making it's presence known. But Tino doesn't mind, in fact he's quick to sit the pair down in the dining hall, bringing platters full of all types of food out to them.

"Aww sweet!" Al cheers at the sight, happily setting Rufflet down as he starts digging in.

"Thank you Tino, you didn't have to go to such trouble for us."

"It's no trouble. As they say, the more the merrier."

Almost as if it were timed, at that exact moment the loud thumping of feet rapidly approaching fills the air.

"Hey Art! Ha I was right it, is you!" Mathias shouts as he charges into the room, spying the pair and halting just before running into the table.

"Must you always be so loud?" Lukas' voice follows shortly before he and two others enter the large room.

"Pup, pup!"

Between the legs of the newcomers Alfred catches a flash of white before it disappears under the table, only to jump up into Arthur's lap.

Smiling and laughing Arthur tries to push the attacker away from licking his face.

"Hanatamago, stop it! I'm happy to see you too boy. Quit it!"

Finally getting a good look, Alfred can see it's a snow covered Pokémon unabashedly licking Arthur's face.

"Art, my man, where you been?" Mathias' voice booms as he leans over Arthur's chair to drape his arm over the blondes shoulder.

"Hello Mathias, sorry I didn't say anything earlier." Arthur greets instead, dodging the question.

Thankfully he's saved from further prying for now as Lukas grabs the spiky haired blonde by the collar and drags him to sit on the other side of the table.

As he's dragged away, the tallest of the three gives his greetings, "Arthur."

"Hello again Berwald." The pair nod to each other, needing few words as Berwald takes his place to sit at the end of the table.

The last and youngest of the newcomers looks uncomfortable as he moves to sit at the farthest away seat, a Pokemon perched on his shoulder. But his solitude doesn't last as Lukas takes the seat right next to him.

"Don't be rude, say hello. You do remember Arthur don't you?"

"Shut up I'm not a child." The silver haired teen huffs before begrudgingly turning to look to Arthur, "Hello."

"Hello Emil, it's been a while, hasn't it?" As amicable as Arthur tries to be, he get's no further response out of the moody teen other than a dismissive huff. The Pokemon, however, squawks mimickingly, "Been a while, been a while!"

Alfred, predictably amazed by the talking Pokémon, gapes.

Thankfully, before he can launch into questioning, Tino returns at that point with a tray full of cups of hot cocoa for all.

"Alright, drink up everyone, get yourselves all nice and warmed up."

Food and drinks now all served, Tino takes his seat between Arthur and Berwald at the end.

As they all get stuck in, conversation rising up around them (mostly carried by Mathias), Alfred, for once in his life attempting to be subtle, nudges Arthur to quietly ask who everyone is.

"Well, first you know Berwald, he's on the Trainers Guild. This is his home, the Oxenstierna estate."

Al's eyes widen at that, wondering just how rich this guy is.

"Mathias is Berwald's third cousin, and Lukas is Mathias' second cousin. The quiet one is Emil, he's Lukas' half-brother, and the bird on his shoulder is Mr. Puff."

"What about Tino?"

"He's m'wife." Berwald's rumbling voice makes Alfred look up in surprise, while the one in question grows incredibly flustered.

"Ah, please stop telling people that, it's embarrassing!"

The conversation immediately switches to teasing the two, leaving Alfred even more confused.

Taking pity, Arthur leans over to quietly whisper, "As long as I've known them Berwald's called Tino his wife. Tino will always say it's embarrassing, but he never outright denies it." He grins leaning back, "Make of that what you will."

"Pup! Pup!" A chip bark calls out from the floor, feeling left out.

"And who could forget you?" Arthur grins, reaching back to pet the pup. "This is Hanatamago, he's kind of like the family pet and guard dog. Aren't you boy?"

"Pup!"

Curious, Al pulls out his Pokédex to find out more about the two new Pokemon.

First, he points it at the talking bird.

"Chatot, the music note Pokemon. It can learn and speak human words. It mimics the cries of other Pokémon to trick them into thinking it's one of them. This way they won't attack it."

"Huh, so that explains the talking." Impressed, Al turns to look at the other one.

"Lillipup, the puppy Pokemon. It faces strong opponents with great courage.The long hair around its face provides an amazing radar that lets it sense subtle changes in its surroundings."

Now that the snow is melted off of it he can see the brown fur that was previously hidden.

Loud laughter draws Alfred's attention back to the table.

"...remember that? You were like a human snowball!" Mathias' boisterous laugh is unhindered by the smack to the head Lukas delivers.

"That was your fault, we wouldn't have even been their if you hadn't wondered off."

Beside him Arthur chuckles, smiling happily at the memory.

"I remember that, we almost got hypothermia, we we're so cold. Tino fed us hot cocoa for twelves hours straight."

"Yeah, you totally mothered them!"

"I was just worried!"

"Mh, cause your a good wife."

"Please stop saying that!"

"Your all so embarrassing..."

"But your enjoying yourself~"

"Shut up."

"Cha! Embarrassing, Shut up!"

Alfred can't help but smile. Arthur may call them all old friends, but looking around, Tino's right. Their family here.

And seeing the bright smile and tears of laughter in his friends eyes, for the first time since setting out in his journey, he feels like he's home.

Authors notes: The Nordic five are finally all here together. For the purposes of this story, Sweden and Finland are in their mid to late thirties, because we need some adults around here. Norway is a year younger than Arthur at 19, Denmark is 21 and Iceland is, as always, the baby of the family at 15, so just a bit younger than Al.

Family trees are a very confusing thing, but if anyone can work out Emil's relation to Berwald, then you get a cookie. It's like one of those brain teaser riddle things; The half-brother of his third cousins second cousin is what to Berwald?

And of course I had to include Hanatamago and Mr. Puffin, who's in disguise as a parrot. Shh, don't blow his cover.

What's next for our heroes? Stay tuned to find out!

R & R people.

Till next time stay awesome!