Okay, as detailed in the last chappy, I just managed to get this done before I have to leave!! Score me!! Anyways, not much to say, just more sweet fluffy stuff. With a good dose of humour at first. I needed more family interaction. ^_^ The song at the end is "Always" by Erasure, which I think could be the new theme song for this story. ^_^

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"Where's the meat?"

"You don't always need meat in a meal."

"You might not, but I do! I'm a growing boy, Brad. Growing boys need their meat."

"I'm a growing boy, and I don't need meat. I don't really like meat."

"Well Nagi that's why you're so small. If you ate more meat, you would grow up to be bigger and stronger, like me."

"Really? But I don't like the taste."

"You see, that's why they invented steak sauce, Nagi."

"Eww. I don't like that, it tastes gross."

"Then that's why you'll always be a runt."

"I'm not a runt! Take it back!"

"Nagi is a ruuuu-uunt! Nagi is a ruuuu-uunt!"

"Shut up Farfie!! I'm not a runt it's not my fault I'm small!!"

"You know how people say good things come in small packages, Nagi?"

"See! Being small is good."

"Well those people are lying to you. Good things don't come in small packages, cause small packages suck." Brad lowered his head into his hands, fighting to control himself. He heard a snicker from beside him, and glanced over at his German lover. Schuldich was trying to hide the smile from his face, and when Bradley turned to look at him, he promptly turned his head away.

~Oh you just think this is utter hilarity, don't you?~

~How can you not? I never figured Farf for the meat packer type.~

~Schu! I can't believe you just said that. God, that is one disturbing image.~

"So Brad, do you actually expect me to eat this stuff? I need my meal bloody and still moving." Brad watched as Nagi made a grossed-out face, digging in to his own bowl of noodles. Brad focused his attention back on Farfarello, trying to look as stern and serious as possible.

"Yes, Farf. If you don't like it, you can feel free to roam the neighbourhood for animals. Just be back in time for bed." The American shook his head as Farfarello inquired as to whether or not he was serious.

"Farf just shut up and eat your damn noodles! Bradley's had a long day, he doesn't need your whining about bloody meat." Schuldich looked over at the Irish boy, and Farfarello's stunned expression was enough to send the German into a fit of laughter. Farfarello also started laughing, and Nagi couldn't help but join in. Brad fought his hardest to keep control, but eventually, the American found himself smiling at the situation.

"I'm sorry Brad. I guess I took that meat thing a bit too far." Brad waved it off, expecting no less from the Irish boy. Farfarello glanced over towards Nagi, who was looking at him cautiously. "I guess I should apologize to you too, Nagi. Sorry for making fun of you for being small. You'll grow with age." Nagi smiled, accepting the older boy's apology. "Schu, I'm sorry I made you yell at me. It was quite frightening."

"Oh shut up and eat your supper, you little freak." With that out of the way, the four set back to eating their meals, discussing daily events. Brad broke the news to them that Schuldich would be accompanying him Thursday night on a mission with Takatori. Farfarello inquired when he would begin accompanying Brad on missions, and the American just replied that when Estet felt he was finished his training, they would let him know. The Irish boy nodded, going back to his meal.

"Braddy-san, when will I finish my training?" Bradley finished his meal, pushing the bowl away from him. He leaned over in Nagi's direction, shrugging to the boy.

"I don't know Nagi. That depends on how well you do in training, and how quickly you finish." Nagi boasted that he would finish before Farfarello, which led to the two younger boys engaging in another verbal sparring match. Schuldich ushered them out of the dining area, chasing them to the hall, where they continued in Farfarello's room. Schuldich came back out to the kitchen, clearing the table.

"It's hard to think of him actually killing anyone, isn't it?" Brad looked up at the German teen, seeing the look of understanding in Schuldich's eyes.

"I have a hard time imagining even you killing someone. Myself, even. I mean I've done it before, but it just feels weird, especially having us the way we are. I wish so much sometimes that we had a different goal to be working towards. I just can't imagine what's going to happen to allow to make such a change in ourselves." Schuldich wrapped his arms around Brad, leaning his head on the American's shoulder.

"So do I. But it's just going to have to happen. If it doesn't happen soon enough, it'll be back to Rosenkreuz, won't it?" Brad nodded, not wanting to verbalize that truth. He and Schuldich were the only two to have been subject to the school. While Brad had spent the full four years there, he had rescued Schuldich after only one. Once he had graduated, he had plead with the school masters to allow him to train Schuldich on his own. The telepath had enough control over his gift, the only thing left to teach him were fighting skills. To his surprise they had agreed, allowing him to take the fourteen year old German boy with him. They had spent the first eight months alone, before finding Farfarello. Upon finding that Schuldich had a rather controlling and calming effect on the Irish boy, everyone involved thought it best to leave the young teen with the two. Three months upon that discovery, Brad had brought Nagi home, and so long as the boy met with an instructor on the weekends to ensure his telekinesis was under control, they allowed Brad to keep him as well. It was the team he had seen in his visions, and the team the Elders had seen in theirs. It was obvious they would need a good few more years before they really became useful to Estet, but the organization was willing to wait.

"I couldn't imagine Nagi being there. It would ruin him. Farf would probably fit in, though. Can't quite see him bowing down to the brainwashing of Estet, though, and that would ruin him." Schuldich placed a kiss to the American's cheek.

"Let's not think about that, Bradley. Come on, let's go snuggle on the couch and listen to some music. You can even bring your textbooks if you really need to study." Brad smiled, letting himself be pulled towards the couch. He sat down, pulling Schuldich down on top of him. The German snuggled into his side, kissing him softly on the lips. Brad slung an arm around him, holding him tightly. He picked up the remote off the back of the couch, clicking the tv on. He pulled up the list of music channels, reading them off to his German.

"Ooh, put it on the new wave channel, Bradley. I love new wave." He complied, flicking to that channel. The faint strains of a synthesizer floated over the airwaves, and Brad felt Schuldich's face split in a smile. "I love this song, I think it's so perfect for us Bradley." Not recognizing the song, he was careful to pay attention to the lyrics. He smiled himself at the chorus, hugging Schuldich as the boy softly sang along. ~Always, I wanna be with you, and make believe with you, and live in harmony, harmony, oh love~

"You're right baby, this song is perfect for us. Maybe it should be our song."

"I agree. It's so our song." They snuggled closer, taking advantage of these tender moments before life changed too much.