The basket was left to itself for a while, within easy sight of anyone who passed by.

Alfred rested easily until small hands picked him up, pinning his wings against his back. "Alfie, you're a Birdie!"

Al squawks awake wriggling in a panic.

"Oh, sorry," Patrick cringed, quickly opening his hands. "Did I hurt you?"

"Patrick..? When'd you get here?"

"Just now," he smiled brightly. "We were in Wales, but we got on the train - I love trains! Much better than planes, but I love the way they rhyme!"

Ok Al, wake up so you could keep up with the kid now.. He yawns rubbing his face a bit.

"Dylan's in the kitchen with Iain. I think they're talking big people stuff, so I came to watch TV, but you're here," he cheered. "And you have a fairy friend too! Well, one that isn't Ro. There's fairies everywhere, have you seen?!"

"Yeah, they kind of got kicked out of their tree so Iain's letting them stay for a while."

"Oh, poor fae," he pouted sympathetically for a moment but the poor child was clearly too excited to keep it long.

Al glanced up at the child, "So how you been?"

"Good! Great! Dylan taught me how to birth a horse!"

"Did you drink too much pop again..?"

"No... Maybe? I had a little bit because I was thirsty on the train," he shrugged, giggling. "But I'm excited because Dylan said I might get to learn earth magic soon!"

"That's cool.." He glanced back to the basket to check on Opal before turning to Patrick. "Hey wanna go find the others and let her sleep a little longer?"

"Aww, I wanted to talk to her. She looks fun!"

"She's also been playing doctor for the last week and really needs a nap."

"Aww, okay," he whispered, creeping out of the room. "So where am I meant to play?"

"Ask Iain? Some of the kid fairies might wanna play."

He shook his head. "Iain says I can't play with the little ones because they can't fly away and I might step on one."

"Hmm.."

He swayed for a moment then grinned. "Francis."

Al blinked glancing up.

The Frenchman had just come out if the bathroom, but that didn't stop the child from all but tackling him. "Francis!"

Al had curled up defensively in his hand at being thrown around. Francis nearly stumbled over but managed to catch himself.

"I missed you," Pat just beamed, hugging his legs.

Francis chuckled picking him up. Al hurriedly transferring to the blonde's head before he was grabbed again. The child was too busy clinging to the Frenchman right now.

Francis takes them both toward the kitchen. Al tensing as he caught whiff of something and tearing off ahead. Patrick perked up, frowning fretfully.

They entered to see Al hovering around the Scot who was trying to bat him away from the fresh fish they had picked up for dinner on the way home. Canned and processed tuna was alright but whole and straight from the water was too tempting to pass up. "Fishy! Fishy!"

"You lay a claw on this and I'll get the fucking fly swatter, now piss off!" the Scot finally snapped, covering the fish.

Francis caught the bird away letting Iain finally get to the fridge. He put it away, having to remind himself not to slam the door. Last time he did, he needed a new fridge...

"So how bad was it?"

"What?" he shot snappishly, still riled.

"Iain, breathe." He adjusted Patrick in his arms, Al sat on his shoulder looking properly embarrassed at his own behavior. It had just been far too long since he had real fish and he lost it for a second.

"I am breathing," he grumbled. "Just sick of small flying creatures."

Even so Francis rubs his back gently, trying to calm him. Pat frowned sadly, trying to help Francis. The feeling of his tiny had served to calm him, if only for the fact he didn't want to yell at Pat. Francis smiles.

"Fine," Iain sighed. "Everyone out so I can start dinner."

Francis took the two away leaving him be.

Pat snuggled in, pouring softly. "He's mad..."

"He's had a lot to deal with lately. We just need to keep him happy for now." Francis set off to find the others.

Arthur and Dylan were out in the yard, muttering between themselves. The Welshman looked travel worn but happy to be around family.

Francis grins letting Pat lose to chase Ashe. The two youngsters took off happily. The brothers smiled, just watching for a moment.

Al huddled against Francis' neck fighting off the surrounding cold. He hadn't seen Ro today yet, but then again she might be hanging out with the other fae. It must be nice for her to have her own kind around again.

Arthur came to join them shortly. "Everything alright?"

"Iain's getting stressed again, so keep an eye out for him."

The brothers sighed softly, agreeing that he'd probably relax some when his house was back to capacity. He'd been keeping the fae in order for a while now.

"What about you Dylan? How've you been?"

"I've been alright," he smiled warmly. "Been a bit hectic at the farm, and it was a long journey over here, but I'm okay."

Francis chuckles. "Speaking of animals I think someone wanted to talk to you." Francis gently scooped the ball of feathers off his shoulder and handed him over.

Dylan blinked a few times, just taking it in, then smiled. "Well now, this looks interesting."

"Hi.."

"So what's the story behind this one," he asked kindly. "Did you piss off Iain?"

"Actually Ro knocked something off the shelf and into my coffee.."

"Oh boy," he chuckled. "Where is she anyhow? I've not see her yet."

"I think she's hanging out with the fairies somewhere."

"Ah, much better for her then," he beamed. "So, the wings?"

"Um.. I've kind off always had them..?"

Dylan sat in a patio chair, waiting patiently for him to explain.

"See Matt and I have spirit animals.. I guess its like Iain's dragon in a way but I didn't know about him till back after the world wars.. I was just afraid to tell people about it.."

The Welshman nodded softly. "So you're part bird?"

"In a sense yeah. Normally I can change back and forth but I'm stuck half way for right now."

"Well," Dylan had to smile, chuckling softly to himself. "That explains why you've always been so free spirited."

Al smiles softly.

"So what about Mattie?"

"He's a polar bear.. That's why he left actually.. Needed to look after some cubs."

"Well that explains a lot, actually..."

Al shrugs awkwardly.

"So..." The Welshman blushed softly. "Um... What's it like to fly?"

Al chuckles "Its hard as hell to learn but probably one of the best things in the world. But being a bird has cons too, lost count of how many times I broke something."

"No different to living in general then," he smiled gently. "Is love to try it, but part of me doesn't much care for being off the ground."

Al smiles.

"Have you told everyone else yet?"

"You and Pat were the last.."

"Then you've no more loose ends," it was hard to tell if there was a disappointed tone in his voice, but there may have been.

Arthur stepped over. "Okay?"

Al felt a little guilty now, wrapping up in his wings.

Dylan shrugged and Arthur put a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you go clean up and relax? We won't be starting the tree tonight."

Dylan nodded softly, letting Arthur take Al before slipping inside.

"Is he upset..?"

"Probably," the Brit sighed. "I don't think it's you. He's fed up with always being the last to know."

"I'm sorry.."

"Don't be. It took a huge amount of trust to tell any of us. The main reason Dylan doesn't know is likely due to how little you see him."

Al sighs pressing into Arthurs palm, the snow had only deepened during the day and Al was getting cold.

"Let's get you back in the warm, hmm?"

"Ok."

Arthur took him back inside, heading to the warmth of the living room fire. The house still seemed to buzz with activity around them. No wonder Iain was getting stressed. It was a constant hum of white noise that only came with lots of people being cramped together, all talking at once.

Al glanced around at the various groups that passed. Were all the goblins gone? It was hard to tell without checking. Even if they were, who was to say the woods were safe or their tree was still in one piece anymore?

They'd have a new one soon enough though. Their biggest problem was stopping Iain for losing his shit in the meantime.

Al was left by the fire for a while, the others milling about. Fairies passed by, a sea of easily forgotten friendly faces. Arthur let him be. After a while, he finally heard a voice that had been missing all day. "Hey Alfie."

He turns with a smile. Ro beamed at him, her wings fluttering happily. She'd been spending a lot more time as a fairy now she'd worked out how to stay small.

"Hey, have fun today?"

She nodded quickly, hair bouncing. "I've been helping out in the guard, not that there's much to guard here. But they said I'd be a really good guard with a bit of training and building up my wings again!"

"That's good."

That earned him a curious look. "You think I should join the guards?"

"That's up to you. If you want to spend time here or go back to school. Whatever makes you happy."

"I can't just invite myself into another tree," she poured, sitting beside him. "Sure, I can visit and play now and talk to them all, but I can't just decide to live there. That's their home."

Al hums patting her shoulder.

"If I was invited though," she drew her knees up, resting her chin on them; she sounded hopeful, wistful. "That would be a whole other story... Then I really would have a chance to be a guard."

"There's always that chance?"

"Its nice to think so," she confessed, smiling softly.

Al grins hugging her. Still a bit awkward with her being taller than him like this. Ro just snuggled in, giggling quietly.

"So how you feeling?"

"Happy," she mumbled. "I forgot how great it felt to have friends..."

Al smiles softly. "I'm sorry for everything you've been through lately. But maybe now things will get better."

"It's already better," her little smile returned. "When you're not trapped being little anymore, it'll be perfect."

He chuckles.

Ro sat in silence for a moment. "...do you think school will be easier after Christmas..?"

"I think so. You got your spark back, should be easy to stand up to Jamie now right?"

She shuddered slightly. "She's crazy, I swear... But I'm not worried about her."

"What then?"

"I still suck at half my classes."

"Ro I can help you with that. The teachers expect you to see things the way they do, but I can put it in a way that's easier to understand if you'll let me."

"Really," she looked up at him like he'd just told her he was secretly an alien. "You can do that...?"

"I've been through school plenty of times, I know this stuff."

"You have to go through it more than once?" The look of horror on her face was almost comical.

"No that's just me. Since I don't age my bosses like to send me back through every few years to keep up with things."

"Maybe... Maybe in a few years, we could go to school together?"

"If you want to, I'd like that."

She brightened a little. "Maybe we could go to American school? Are your schools better than Arthur's?"

"They're structured a little different but mostly the same."

"I still wanna see," she sat up, moving so her wings had more space. "It'll be fun."

"Alright then!"

"Maybe not for a while though," she giggled again.

"You think dinners done yet? I'm starving and Pat and Dylan wanted to see you."

"They're here," she gasped, excitement winning. She fluttered up, ready to dart off to find them. "Why didn't anyone tell me?!"

Al jumped up taking after her, well she had been out of sight for most of the day.

She checked the kitchen first, only to be growled at by a very stressed Iain and redirected by Arthur who was still trying to help calm him. They headed to the yard and then the library.

It was in the library that they found them. Dylan sat with the child in his lap, reading a book of fairytales to him. Al nudged her over, trailing behind slightly.

Ro stayed small, creeping over to the duo. "Um..."

Although her voice was soft, Pat must have heard her because he looked down and saw them both, beaming instantly. "Ro!"

Al hung back a little not too set on being grabbed by Patrick again.

The child reached down and scoops up the fae, chittering brightly about how little she was this way. Still it was good to see them happy about it.

They may have had issues a while back, but they all learned to put it behind them. Dylan especially. Al went over sitting on Dylan's knee. The Welshman smiled at him, no trace of his earlier disappointment visible.

That was a relief at least.

"You wanna hear a story with me?" Pat asked brightly. "Dylan's even better than Arthur, I think."

"Sure."

Ro fluttered up to his shoulder, snuggling in. Dylan couldn't help smiling as he started up again. It kept them occupied and happy.

In the end, it was Francis that finished dinner, Arthur gathering them all down to eat. Al sat by Arthur sharing plates again. Patrick sat beside them, constantly offering Al little bits of fish. Al was all too happy to eat it, even if in the end he got too full and sleepy to fly.

Arthur took him back to his room, settling him for the night. "Tomorrow," he hummed. "We'll see about getting you freed up."

"Sounds good.."

"Get some rest."

Al just nods settling in. Arthur left the door ajar and slipped back downstairs.

Francis was downstairs with the rest of them still. Arthur came back, sighing tiredly. "Has Iain calmed down any yet?"

"A little."

"Where is he?"

"In the yard."

Arthur sighed again, finally stepping into Francis arms. "Soon... Then we can just relax."

Francis held him firmly, snuggling.

"I'm guessing he isn't in much of talking mood then? If even you can't crack him."

"There's just too much to deal with I think.."

"Then we'll help. If the stubborn butt just let us in the first place, he wouldn't wear himself thin like this."

"I keep telling him that but he never seems to absorb it."

That got a mumble of agreement from the brothers. The blonde sighs softly resting his cheek on Arthur's hair,

"We're going to head up to bed," Dylan yawned softly, scooping up a protesting Pat. "It was a long ride."

"Good night then."

"Night," they headed up to the sound of sleepy protests.

Arthur leaned up, pecking Francis's jaw. He smiles softly, kissing back.

"I'm so glad I have you..."

"I'll always be here."

"Thank you..." Arthur just hides in his chest for a few minutes before pulling away. "I should go talk to him."

"Call if you need backup."

"It might pay for you just to come with me," Arthur cringed softly.

He chuckles getting up. They slipped quietly outside, hoping to avoid startling the Scot and annoying him further.

Iain lay on his back in the grass, his soft voice carrying across the yard. "...be alright... Yeah, soon... Always."

Was he talking to one of the fae?

Before they could ask, he sat up, giving them both a look of annoyance. "I'll come in when I'm good and ready."

"Who said anything about that?"

"You've got that fucking look on your faces," he lay back, rolling onto his side.

Arthur frowned. "You've been sulking out here all day. At least tell one of us what's bothering you."

Francis strolled over to sit beside him after being sure there wasn't anyone to sit on. Arthur sat by his feet, leaving his brother room to sit if he chose to.

"Tell me, one to ten how upset are you right now?"

"Zero, now fuck off..."

"Iain you're laying in a yard full of snow.."

"It's refreshing."

Francis rested his chin in his hand.

"Iain..." Arthur glanced at his lap, voice soft. "Are you mad at us...?"

"I'm not mad Arthur," the redhead sighed, rolling onto his back again. "Just trying to get some peace, which is being artfully interrupted by everyone."

Francis sat still for a moment before stretching out beside him

"Seriously, just go back inside," Iain rolled his eyes, turning his back on the blond.

"And what if we don't want to?"

"Then go freeze your arses off somewhere else."

"No I think I'll stay here."

"Then I'll move," Iain growled in frustration, pulling his tall frame out of the snow.

Francis didn't reply just laying where he was. Arthur started to get up after his brother, the need to just communicate with him plastered on his face. "Iain, please..."

Francis gripped his leg though. Arthur gave his lover a pleading look.

Francis sighs letting go and sitting up.

Iain was already taking off across his yard, clothing soaked by the snow. Arthur chased after him, latching into his waist. "Come back in."

"What the.." Iain spluttered, nearly thrown off balance. "Let go!"

Francis stifled a laugh, Arthur truly looking like the clingy little brother he was at the moment. Iain looked a little flustered by the sudden clinging, unsure how to react. He didn't want to go inside his overcrowded house, bit Arthur wouldn't let go...

It was almost like they were kids again.

"Just come back in," Arthur pleaded. "You'll get sick if you stay out here..."

"No," Iain hardened, though not cruelly. "I'm not going back in."

"But why?!"

"Because I don't fucking want to, now let me go!"

Francis hunched over chuckling softly.

"Will you shut up," that earned the Frenchman a sour glare from the Scot. "Come get him off me."

Francis stood up but instead of prying off Arthur he hugged Iain as well.

"For fuck sake, let go," he twisted, trying to wiggle free.

"If you want to sulk you might as well do it with company.

"I'm not sulking," his voice changed, too soft, almost unsteady. "I just need space, I need you two to let go."

Francis released his hold. Arthur did too, though with some reluctance. Iain stumbled away a few steps.
"I just need some space..."

There really was nothing they could do for his claustrophobia.. It was surprising really that none of them had considered it, with so many bodies, no matter how small, now filling up his house.

Francis pulled back to the porch chairs, giving him range but still keeping an eye. Arthur sat in the chair beside him, resisting the urge to stay and curl up with his brother. He reached out to hold the Brit's hand firmly.

"I hate seeing him worked up like this," Arthur squeezed gently, eyes locked in the line form curled up under a bare apple tree.

"If he just would have said in the first place.."

"He never does... Stupid pride..."

Francis smiles sadly. These brothers had come so far together. They used to be at a stage were just seeing each other brought on uncontrollable rage. These days, they were fine. Either way, it was getting late - they should probably head to bed soon.

Hopefully Iain would remember to come in on his own. Christmas wouldn't be much fun if he was sick for most if it...

Francis pulled Arthur inside and took off his wet coat.

Arthur hung his up with a wistful glance outside. "I worry about him..."

"I know.. He'll be ok, just give him time."

Arthur conceded, going to make himself a warm drink to take to bed. Francis had gone to change into dry clothes. Arthur left a flask of coffee on the windowsill for his brother before taking his tea up to his and Francis's room. They settled in to the warm sheets.

Arthur sipped his tea for a bit before curling into his partner. Francis wrapped an arm around him using the other to read for a bit. Arthur wanted to stay awake and listen for his brother, but it wasn't long before he was fast asleep. Francis wasn't really getting anywhere either, eyes staring at the same spot on the page.

Should he check again? Not that it would likely do much good, but reading wasn't working and Arthur was snoring noisily. He sighs putting away the book and slipping off to the window.

No sign of him under the tree where they left him... It was starting to snow again.

He walked towards the hall padding as quietly as he could. Arthur grumbled, but stayed asleep.

Down the stairs without much of a creek and peeking into the kitchen. Empty. But the porch light was still on. He checked the coat rack. Iain's coat was still inside. He hadn't been in for it...

Francis sighs looking out the kitchen window. There he was... From here, Francis could see the shadow of a tall form, curled up on the porch swing.

Francis rolled his eyes opening the door quietly and stepping over. He lay the coat over him. "If you're going to stay out here at least bundle up."

"I did," he mumbled, curled up under an old blanket with the coffee Arthur left for him. He looked a lot more miserable now the night had well and truly set in.

Francis ran a hand through his hair, as if he could brush away the stress from the red locks Iain smiled sadly, just letting the touch soothe him as much as it could while he was free to enjoy it.

"You really ought to stop straining yourself like this.. You'll end up with grey hair."

"I think I'd look quite rugged, going grey," he smirked weakly. "Mature and manly."

Francis chuckles softly.

Iain sighed, his mirth dying. "I just want to get this tree out of the way..."

"Then bring it up tomorrow. Arthur's just about ready to put you in sick bed if you keep this up."

"I don't need him to baby me," Iain huffed lethargically. "I just need them to help me grow a fucking tree so I can have my house back..."

Francis rolls his eyes softly, patting him on the shoulder. "The sooner you do, the sooner he'll get off your back."

"Arse holes, the lot of you," he grumbled into his coffee.

Francis just chuckles ruffling his hair slightly and heading inside. Iain stayed put, letting his mind linger on the warm touch. That would be enough to see him through the night.