It was an hour and a half after Al disappeared when it happened. Furious thunder rang through the house along with an angry feminine voice. "OUTSIDE! NOW! Liwanu bring the eggs, I wish to see them."

Matt bolted up, heart nearly stopping dead in it's tracks as he scrambled to gather the eggs in a blanket, taking them to the yard. Francis jumps startled but follows after confused and worried.

Outside stood a large bird easily as big as the house. Plumage of decorative black, yellow, blue, and red adorned her hide. Sparks danced on her feathers.

Matt slowed to a halt half way, eyes drawn up to the enormous avian beast. *Al...?*

Al's consciousness could be sensed from Wakiya's back. But with how slow it was moving he must be asleep. Francis glanced up as Arthur hobbled out.

"D-did you call me...?" Matt looked up at the bird, eyes settling on her impressive plumage. He couldn't meet her eyes.

"So here I am hunting for lunch and I sense lightning activity not weather based. I come to see and what do I find? Little Mochni striking at the sky till his electrical balance is so dangerously low he's hardly sane! What's this about someone threatening to kill us off?!" She eyes Arthur dangerously. (I'm basing this on anime!pikachu, over or under charged levels can lead to lethargy or hyperness depending on low or high, fevers, delirium, and just sickness in general.)

"N-no one is," he glanced to Arthur involuntarily. "No one is threatening us, I... It was a silly argument, we were just angry and the babies don't help, I..."

She watched the Brit for a moment before reaching back and using her beak to set Al on the ground. She then plucks two feathers and sets them with him, sparks gently caressing his skin. "Keep those with him and he shall recover soon enough. Now let me see the eggs."

He watched Al a moment before coming closer, setting the blanket down, opening it slowly. She leans down inspecting them closely. "They are unusual.. I wouldn't be surprised if they start showing signs of old magic when they're older." She nudged one with her hooked beak, surprisingly gentle for one her size.

Matt watched her closely, tense but slowly relaxing.

She sighs but lifts her head again, "You have any problems with them or yours call me and I shall see what I can do." She steps back preparing to leave. "And Linawu.."

"Yeah...?" he flinched at the wind she kicked up but stood his ground.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Mochni is a handful at the best of times. But he couldn't be in better hands than you."

He teared up slightly, battered heart swelling slightly in its pit. "Thank you..."

The corners of her beak hitch up slightly as she leaves. Thunder rolling with every stroke of her wings.

Matt watched her go, gathering up the eggs. "Papa... Could you get Alfie please...? Keep the feathers on him..."

Francis goes and gathers him up. He glanced to Arthur as he walks back inside. Arthur just sat on the front step, guilt seizing him in a death grip.

The French duo head back upstairs and settle their bundles in. Matt snuggled in with Al and his eggs; protecting them both. Francis went back down to Arthur.

Arthur was still outside; trembling as he held his swollen stomach. Francis walks over hugging him from behind. He sighed, leaning into him. Francis rocks him gently.

They stay like that a while before Arthur groaned.

"Angleterre..?" (Attempting to use more French!)

"I-I don't feel right..."

"..Let's get back inside.."

He nodded, struggling up and waddling to his room. Francis sets him down sitting with him. They rest for a bit, but Arthur couldn't settle. "Francis... I-it's not right, I... I-I can feel something..."

"What's wrong?"

"Moving..." he rubbed his stomach.

Francis frowns getting him to lay down and feel around.

Something had changed within him... Something was not the same. Something was coming..

Francis panics briefly moving to get towels and debating on waking Matthieu. Matt was emotionally exhausted, the stress wouldn't be fair... Arthur moaned in pain.

He comes back to Arthur. A damp patch had formed under him, the blonde whimpering in fear and pain. Francis comes over kissing his brow before setting up. Arthur wiggled out of his bottoms, gripping the pillows tight.

He arranges a few towels under him and sets the rest aside, sitting near Arthur's legs. They remove his trousers and wait. Francis sits rubbing Arthur's stomach.

He tensed, groaning suddenly as the first starting to come out. Francis placed his hands. Arthur pushed, a furry little head slowly poking out. Francis held it as it appeared.

As soon as it was out, it snuggled into Francis's palm, a tiny little rabbit with soft brown fur. Francis rubs it dry to get it breathing. It snuffled softly, little lungs kicking in. He grins softly setting it with Arthur. Arthur couldn't help smiling as it nuzzled into him.

Francis goes back for the next. Arthur started pushing out the next one, this one more of a chocolate brown than the last. Francis catches it and they continue.

Arthur had ten little rabbit kits in total, ranging from brown to black and two were a starlight silver. Arthur's stomach had shrunk dramatically. Francis cleans him up and sits beside him. Arthur lay on his side, letting his litter feed. He smiled up tiredly. Francis crawls in behind him kissing his ear.

He didn't know why, but seeing the little creatures filled him with a sense of pride. Francis smiles happily purring in his ear as his tail came to wrap around Arthur's leg protectively. Arthur squeaked happily, his fluffy tail coming out with his ears. Francis chuckles.

"...Francis, we made babies..."

"I know. Amazing isn't it?"

Arthur nodded softly, awestruck. Francis leans over him, kissing lovingly. He kissed back, just letting it soothe him. They snuggle in resting. Arthur dozed off, babies snuggled safe. Francis held him close. They rested together.

A few hours passed, Al waking groggily. He still had a slight temp. Matt was still laying with him, gently stroking his hair from his face. Al blinks at him confused.

*Why do you keep doing these things?* Matt whispered sadly.

*M' sorry..*

*How do you feel...?*

*..Meh.. ..I'm sorry Matt.. I just.. And Artie and mom..* His eyes grew wet.

*I know... It's okay,* Matt smiled sadly, pulling him into a hug.

Al clung to him shaking lightly. Matt just held him close, stroking his hair. Al sat crying for a bit. Matt just clung to him, fighting not to cry with him.

Finally he calms back down, feeling light headed and hungry.

Matt rubbed his back softly. *Okay...?*

He nodded gingerly. *Can we eat..?*

*Sure,* he smiled warmly. *Do you want to come down with me, or stay here?*

*I wanna get up..* he was starting to get stir crazy sitting in his room. But he didn't want to hurt his eggs either..

*Okay... Carefully. We'll wrap your eggs up warm.*

He nods shifting to sit up. They bundle up the eggs, shuffling downstairs. Al clung to Matt. He was recharged but still worn from it. Matt just sat him down before setting about making him food.

*Where's Ro?* he wanted to get his mind off earlier.

*She shut herself away in her room... Felt she was in the way...*

Al frowns worriedly. Matt had hardly managed to speak with her during this...

*I'll go talk to her then..*

*Eat first.*

Al nods lightly tracing his finger on the table. Matt threw together a good meal for him. Al pulls him down to eat as well. They eat together in silence.

In light of things they should check on Arthur, but Al didn't want to face him just yet.. Matt got the flickering thought and offered to check for him. Al sighs turning and hugging his twin. Matt held him for a moment before telling him to go see Ro. Al took off felling just a tad better.

Ro sat up in her room, nested up in her bed. She looked like she wanted to be alone... Al frowns, knocking softly. She didn't respond. He sighs coming in and sitting on the floor by the bed.

She kept her back to him, face buried in her pillow. He reached over picking up a plushie and dancing it on her arm. She shrugged it off, shifting away. He sighs.

No one had spoken to her for two days... Yes, she was upset...

He frowns softly just opting to pluck her off the bed. She yelped, kicking instantly. He hugs her tickling.

"Alfred, stop," She squirmed away, trying to push him off.

He sighs letting go.

She stumbled back, her eyes red and sore and full of hurt and loneliness. She was shivering, voice hoarse. "What do you want...?"

"I'm sorry.."

"I'm sorry," she choked, eyes welling up. "Y-you ignored me for two whole days and just say y-you're sorry?!"

He sighs. It's not like he wanted too..

"You complete dick," she grabbed the nearest teddybear, smacking him feebly with it. "You promised you wouldn't leave me behind anymore...!"

He flinched just taking it.

"A-and you just left and I didn't know what to do a-and..." Her blows grew weaker and weaker until she just sank to the floor, sobbing into her bear.

"I'm sorry.. I just got upset and I don't tend to think much when I am.." He picks her up hugging. "And I'm not trying to ignore you.. Getting those eggs out hurt and I've been stuck in bed because of it.."

"I-I didn't even know and no one said," she bawled into his shoulder. "No one would notice me ...!"

He sighs rocking. She had tried to connect with Matt, but he brushed her off because he was worried for Al. They were kinda bad about that..

She'd been brushed aside once again and no matter how she tried to forget about it,it just hurt... She felt unwanted. He sits holding her a while.

She slowly puttered out, hiccupping softly. He rubs her back a little. She sniffled, hugging teddy.

Al wanted to stay, but there was also this tug in his brain to get back to his eggs.. He'd break her heart by leaving, but his eggs would die without him... He was torn..

His eggs had to stay in their nest... But she was free to move.

He hugs her close standing up. She whimpered in confusion, clinging.

"You're ok. I just need to grab something then we can go watch tv or something alright?"

She nodded softly, burying into his shoulder. They get to his room and he uses a smaller blanket to pad a plastic tub and puts the eggs inside. Then they head back downstairs. She just hung onto him, scared to let go.

He sits on the couch hugging them both close. It was awkward, but he had everything that needed him... They settle in watching movies.

Matt came down a while later. *Dad had a litter of rabbits this morning. Ten in all.*

Al blinks. *..is he ok..?*

Matt nodded softly. *Just tired...*

Al sighs. Matt hugged him softly from behind. *How are the eggs?*

*Ok?* he hopes anyway.. *Um.. Matt? Have you heard anything about that incubator..?* Al was actually quite warm for a human. His climate and bird blood attributing to it. And though he likes the feeling of holding his eggs he was paranoid it wasn't enough, especially with how much he was leaving them..

*I got a call earlier actually,* he paused to yawn. *Somebody is bringing it over for us tonight.*

Al smiles leaning on him. He snuggled a bit.

*How are you fairing?*

*I'm exhausted...* he couldn't lie. He just wanted to drop where he stood.

*Come're.*

Matt slipped onto the couch with him. Al pulls him in carefully so not to disturb the eggs in his lap. Matt curled in, tired body trembling. Al hugs him close kissing his head and sending him memories of mom's lullabies. He relaxed slowly, drifting into a dead sleep.

Al sighs. Even if Matt was older he still needed babying sometimes too. He settled in for some much needed rest. They all sit cuddling.

Ro woke a little later. Al glanced to her. She rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"You ok?"

She shrugged softly, sitting back. He grips her hand. She gripped back, needing to know he was there.

One hand on Matt the other on Ro.. He glanced down to his lap. The eggs looked fine... But then, how did an egg look bad? How could he tell they were even healthy..?

Hopefully they were fine... He was just over thinking again right..? More than likely... He frowns softly. Matt's incubator should be with them soon though.. Al sighs hugging the others closer. They snuggle in.

A few hours passed before the knock on the door came, signaling the arrival of the incubator. Al maneuvers away setting the clutch back in the tub.

The incubator was set up in the back of Al's library, to keep them safe and undisturbed. He sets them in but still felt a little lost not holding them himself. Maybe he could still take them out once in a while? So long as they were kept warm and rotated, they should be fine.

He watched them a little before going back to the others. It was nearing dinner now. Matt was still crashed and Francis and Arthur must still be with their litter. Ro sat on the couch, idly playing with Kuma's paws.

He sits hugging Matt, needing something to hold. Matt clung back in his sleep, needing the familiar touch. They sit watching tv again.