NOTE* Hey guys, here is another one. I love writing these characters, they are proving to be a lot of fun. Sorry if you don't like the feel-goodz, but I absolutely love them! Enjoy!

Chapter Nine:

Family

Alfred blinked as he opened his eyes. His head felt stuffy and his body numb when he tried to move, but it was the sharp pain that flashed throughout his entire body that left him lying there, unwilling to move again. Was he in his bed? Had his step mother and uncle finally decided the beating was enough?

He focused his eyes and stared at the unfamiliar white ceiling.

Nope, he thought to himself, definitely not his bedroom. Turning his head, he winced at the mild pulse that ran through his eyes and forehead. The pain gritted deep into his bones and he closed his eyes, trying to swallow down his nausea.

"Alfred?" a voice asked.

His eyes flashed open at the voice and he stared into the concerned and surprised eyes of his older brother, Matthew who stood in the doorway dressed in a pair of jeans and a light blue button up long-sleeved shirt.

"M-Mattie", he whispered.

"Alfred!" his brother yelled as he took off and ran to the side of the bed.

For a moment, Alfred was worried that his brother was going to dive into the bed on top of him, but fortunately he seemed to realize that wouldn't turn out very well. Instead, he clutched the others hand in a nearly bruising grip.

"I was so scared you would never wake up, Al…" Mattie cried, "Al…I'm so sorry!"

"Why" he croaked out, his throat dry.

"I s-should have t-told Arthur about m-mom sooner!" his brother cried.

Alfred frowned. He knew it wasn't right that his brother was blaming himself for what had occurred. Neither of them could have stopped it and even if they had told, who says it would have changed the ultimate outcome. If anything, Matthew would have just been added to the list of abuses and that was something Alfred would not let happen.

"Matt, what is…" a voice spoke from the doorway, however it dropped off.

Alfred started to turn further to see who was there when a blonde haired, green eyes familiar face popped into his line of view; a vibrant smile on his face.

"Well good morning lad", the doctor chuckled.

It was a sound Alfred relished as he smiled back, not as bright as his usual smile, but still better than nothing. A wince quickly followed however and the doctor frowned.

"Are you in pain?"

Alfred nodded.

"Hang on a minute", he said as he reached up above the boy's head and raised the dose of morphine a bit. A quick numbing sensation came over Alfred and he let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. The pain faded into nothing and he gave a relieved smile.

"Thanks" he said tiredly.

"Anytime my boy", Arthur replied, as a slight awkwardness found its way into the small hospital room, "Err…if you want to know, a warrant has been put out for the arrest of you dad, step-mother and uncle, as well as the social worker Ross Branson."

Alfred sighed in relief. That meant they couldn't reach Matthew. Thank God. Around that moment, Tania walked into the room. When she noticed Alfred awake, she smiled and stepped forward.

"You okay kid?" she asked him.

He nodded. "Tired."

She smiled sympathetically.

"You can go to sleep as soon as you answer a few questions", she said, "Can you tell me what happened after you left the hospital a few days ago?"

"I…" he paused and looked at Matthew.

Arthur recognized the look.

"Matt, I think Alfred needs a drink. Down stairs in the cafeteria they are selling chocolate milk. Would you mind getting him one? Also get me a water and yourself something."

"Whatever I want?" Matt asked wide eyed.

Arthur smiled.

"Whatever you want lad", he replied.

Matthew beamed, "I will be right back Al!"

The eleven year old sped out of the room. As soon as he was gone, Alfred began his story. He didn't want his brother to hear what had occurred. He especially couldn't tell him about the deal he had made to keep the pain away from him. It wasn't something he wanted his brother dealing with right now, not when he was already worried about Alfred's condition and the future of the two.

"I left with my step-mother and we arrived home. She…she hit and kicked me and told me I deserved punishment. Matthew too. I…" he paused, "I asked her to pass on Matt's punishment and give it to me instead as I was the one to blame for running away with Mattie. She did, but she was angry I had spoken against her, so she added more to the beating."

"What happened next?" Tania asked when he stopped.

"S-She chained me to a leaky drain pipe in the basement. I wanted to stop the pain and help Matthew, so I…I decided the best way would be to kill her."

Arthur gaped at the young boy. The child had actually contemplated murdering someone? His step-mother no less?

"I grabbed my pocket knife from my shoe and… I went to stab her. Her brother, Ivan was there though and he stopped me. They…they didn't hold back after that. I am sure you can imagine what happened after that."

They nodded. When the two began whispering between themselves, he got up the courage to ask the real question he had been worrying over since he had woken up and learned of his parent's arrest warrant. What was going to happen to him and his brother now?

"W-What happens now?" he asked.

Tania looked up.

"What do you mean Alfred?"

"I mean…What happens to Matt and me, now that my parents are about to be arrested."

Arthur fidgeted nervously. This had been so much easier with Matthew, so why was it so hard with Alfred? Arthur didn't need to think too hard about that one. Arthur had gotten close to Alfred. There was just something about the child that drew him in and made him want to protect the little boy. It mattered to him what Alfred thought and wanted.

"Well, I was talking with Tania earlier and…" Arthur hesitated, "how would you feel about living with me?"

Alfred stared at the doctor.

"I can't", he replied.

Arthur's heart dropped. Alfred…didn't want to come live with him?

"C-Can I ask why?" he mumbled.

Tania also looked on in interest.

"Well, I can't leave Matt. I couldn't ever leave Matt" Alfred said as though it were obvious.

Arthur burst out laughing, relief surging back into him.

"W-What is it?" asked Alfred, scared for a moment the doctor was angry or going crazy. He didn't doubt the bushy eye-browed doctor wasn't at least a few screws short of a set. After all, most adults Alfred knew were insane.

"S-Sorry lad", Arthur got out as he choked down his laughter of relief, "It's just…I would never dream of separating you and your brother."

Alfred's eyes grew large.

"Y-You mean…"

"Yeah lad", Arthur laughed with a wide smile, "Both of you. Would you like to live with me for at least a while?"

Alfred's face split into a large, wide smile, the biggest Arthur had ever seen on the eight year old boy.

"Yeah!"

Arthur could only smile wider as the child's enthusiasm infected him, causing him also to become excited about the prospect. He sat on the edge of the bed and hugged the lad to him, mindful of his injuries and fragile condition. About that time Matthew walked back in with two chocolate milks and a bottle of water.

"Hey let me in too!" he yelled with a smile, knowing the doctor must have just informed his brother of their new home.

Arthur smiled as he pulled the eleven year old into the circle, keeping his weight on his lap and off of Alfred in case Matt accidentally aggravated an injury. Tania who was looking on at the heart warming scene smiled. She was confident more so now than ever that her decision to accept the young doctor's plea was worthwhile. These three would no doubt be very good for one another.

H~H

That night, after Arthur had made sure Matthew was comfortable in his bed and sleeping soundly, he waltzed back into Alfred's hospital room where the small boy was staring up at the ceiling.

"What's the matter, Al?" he asked.

"I was just wondering", he whispered, "Do you think…"

"Think what?" Arthur implored, interested in the boy's thoughts.

"D-Do you think…we can be a family?" he whispered, obviously embarrassed by his own words.

Arthur bit his lip as he wondered what to tell the small boy. It was not surprising an eight year old was wondering about family. Children needed a stable support after all, but Arthur was only 26 himself and wasn't sure how good of dad he would truly be to the two young children.

"I don't know" he admitted truthfully, "I have never been a dad before and you guys…you haven't ever lived with me before."

Alfred and Arthur were silent until finally the boy spoke up.

"I guess it will be a learning experience then huh?" he asked in a whisper.

Arthur chuckled at the mature reply.

"Yes, I assume it will be", he stated as he stepped forward and sat on the edge of the bed, "I can't promise you everything will be perfect Alfred, but I can tell you this…I will protect you the best I possibly can."

Alfred sat up slowly, aching, but the ache only a dull one as he wrapped his small arms around the doctor's waist. Arthur copied the motion as he gently held the boy to him, his small blonde head leaning on his chest.

"I love you", came the quiet whisper.

Arthur sucked in a breath. The child loved him? He had done so little to help the boy, but he loved him because of what he had done. The very thought made Arthur tear up as the clear liquid slipped down his cheeks unchecked.

"I love you too…Alfred", he whispered and he meant it as he kissed the top of the child's head. Never before had he felt such a deep love or protective sensation come over him for anyone. He swore he would protect these children, provide them with a stable home the best he could and love them with all the love he could for the boys who had always deserved it from the day they were born.

"I love you far too much in fact", he stated again, but he doubted there was ever a love too deep for a child such as this one.

"And in place of Faith, is Love"