Lines etch deep into his skin as they go around his chest and onto his back, nearly all a deep red that in time will fade. Only two lines are different. One blue and one black that seem to dance down his back and curl into a heart of sorts on his stomach. Carefully he touches one of the lines thankful to know that his skin isn't raw to the touch anymore. "What do you think?" He hears behind him. In the mirror he sees Allistor bare chested smiling with his arms crossed.

"It's awesome but, shouldn't there be one more line?"

Nodding Allistor smirks. "On your next round I'll get the color. It might take a bit of time but you'll have it in maybe another year or so." He joins his Omega at the mirror. "It looks good though."

"Thanks," Alfred says noticing a few new lines on his lover's shoulder. "And what are those?" Carefully the Omega traces one of the new colorful lines making its way down his arm.

While he shrugs the Alpha can't hide his own smile. "Thought I'd add to my family's history as well." He ruffles the Omega's hair before resting his forehead on the younger man's. "Couldn't let you have all the pain now could I?" It's followed by a kiss to Alfred's nose. "After what you did for me."

"What I did for you?" Alfred repeats wrapping his arms around Allistor's neck. "What did I do exactly? Besides you know sitting there for twelve hours."

It earns a chuckle. "For givin' me Clara. I haven't properly thanked yah yet." Again he softly kisses his mate sliding the mirror away as he inches closer to the bed.

Alfred doesn't fight as he's laid down on the large bed. "You're a good father," he says between passionate kisses. "A good Alpha, a good mate, a...oh you're a fucking good lover too." Quickly his hands go down to his mate's pants ready to tear them away as Allistor works on his. Just as he's about to slip off the Alpha's his eyes catch movement at the door. "Leon," he cries out in panic shoving Allistor off the other side of the bed where his son can't see.

Allistor lands with a sharp thud as the boy slowly enters. "Mama, can we go play in the snow?" The Wolf looks past his mother to the Alpha slowly sitting up. "Allistor does you want to come too?"

"Well I ain't gettin' laid now so." He feels a sharp slap to the side of his head. "The Lad don't know what it means besides he'll have ta learn sooner or later." He says, rising to his feet making use that his pants are resting at his waist again. "And don't hit me again."

"Then don't give a smart answer to my boy." There's a sharp smug resting on the Omega's face. "You won't say it to Clara."

"Bet me." Allistor answers, walking to the door and picking up the child. "If she caught us in the act I'd sit her down and explain everything."

"Uh-huh."

"I would, it's our kind and right now I'm gonna show this wolf how a fox plays in the snow." With that he sits the wolf on his shoulders and walks out. "Now come on Mama. Your Lad wants ta play in the snow."

Soon the Omega joins both of them as well as the Neko who is already hard at work on a snow castle. "Where did you learn to do that?"

Abel smiles warmly looking back at his lover's sparkling eyes. "Just practice. I'm a little rusty but it's getting there."

"Rusty?" Alfred can't believe his ears as his eyes scan over the large creation finding something new each time around. "But dude," he starts to say as Jason falls into it. "Never mind."

As the Jackal sits up Abel starts to quietly hiss seeing that his three hours of work disappear in seconds. "You," he says unable to think of all he wants to say before Alfred pulls him away.

"He didn't mean it. Lei pushed him and he tripped."

Still Abel can't say a word. Instead he turns on his heels pulls his scarf off as he walks back into the warm halls of the palace. If it had been Leon or Lei he won't have cared one bit. In fact he would have laughed it off before going back to work but something about the Alpha gets under his skin or maybe it's not just him.

He's never been the jealous type but even he has to admit it's not exactly how he pictured his life would turn out. It's a far cry from his life with the Blues and the men he once called brothers.

With each step the world around him changes to those once care free times during the winter on the cliff side. "Hey Abel, why don't you build it for me?" He can hear calling out in his ears. It's a tiny voice he hasn't heard in over a decade.

Another voice cries out. "Aww help me brother..."

The memory plays out as he continues to walk, to where he's not sure nor at the moment does he really care. "Sure but Emil you'll have to be careful." He had answered back being no older than twelve at the time. He was the oldest of the group and had always looked out for them in those snowy days.

"Abel?"

He covers his ears trying to focus on the memory and the young kittens within it hoping that the new voice will leave him alone to his memories. "Fine but show me how you do that."

"Magic."

"Abel!" Suddenly his wrist is pulled away and he's forced to spin around to face the Omega. "He didn't mean it so don't be so upset." Alfred says as his brother's smiling faces vanish in an instant.

"Upset? Who said I was upset?" He answers louder than he intended getting the attention of the Albino reading close by. "I was just cold."

"You're a really bad liar." Alfred answers, as Gil pokes his head out, slowly removing his reading glasses never once letting the other Alpha know he's there. "We can rebuild it."

"Maybe I don't want to rebuild it!" His voice cracks as his eyes suddenly grow cold before turning around again and storming off.

Alfred stands watching, his mouth agape in confusion. As he takes a step forward Gilbert takes his shoulder. "He yelled at me."

"Let him go," The Alpha says motioning towards the library. "When he's ready to talk, he'll talk."

"But he's never done this before..."

"In front of you no but this isn't the first time so just give him time." Again Gil moves his head to where he was sitting. "He's got a few demons he's not ready to admit to yet. So come get warm and show me what kind of work that fox did."

Alfred watches the Neko turn a corner and disappear. "Yeah...you didn't mind that I did it right?"

"Hey it's your body. If you want to go through all that shit for some art who am I to bitch about it?" He gives a warm smile. "I might even explain my own uh work."

"The crosses?"

"Yeah though it's a long story."

"It's okay, I got time."