Al's been under a lot of stress lately, he gets a little mouthy in this chapX3

After a while Al fixed up a more proper nest for the three, leaving room for the remaining two as well. But it still worried him. It wasnt uncommon for older chicks to kill younger ones to get more food, hopefully as long as they were all happily fed..

If they had to, they could build a second nest... He sat back turning the remaining eggs gently. Ivan stroked a smooth shell tenderly, nuzzling Al. They'd be fine right? Just slower than the others..

"Would you like to come down for food soon?" Ivan hummed in his ear. "It has been a while since you ate."

"Sure."

Ivan gently took the eggs from him and settled them safely aside. Al let him but was rather reluctant to.

"They will be alright," he coaxed Al up next, guiding him towards the kitchen and the mouth-watering smell of dinner. He was rather hungry..

When they entered the kitchen, Arthur smiled softly at them and ushered them to a seat, trying to avoid the little clutch of rabbits hopping under their feet. Al chuckles softly at them.

"We've been trying to keep them outside, but they keep sneaking in," Arthur chuckled with him.

Al smiles softly, rubbing his fingers on the table.

"They'll be fine," Ivan rubbed his leg gently.

Al grips onto it. He really was becoming a worried hen.

Arthur gave then both a plate of pasta. "Is everything alright?"

"..three of the eggs hatched.. But the other two haven't.."

"They're probably just a little bit late," he hummed. "Give them a day or so."

"Ok.."

Arthur gave him a reassuring smile before going to tend his litter. They sit and eat. Al hasn't realized how little he had eaten lately. The others had however. Arthur had been getting quite worried over it.

Lingering habits from anorexia, Al tended to eat less when he was upset. Today seemed a little better though. None the less, now that they had the time to worry about it, Arthur was going to bully him into good habits. He finished most the plate at least. Well, they had to start somewhere.

He put his fork down fiddling with his hands again.

"If you're done, you're free to go," Arthur just hummed idly when he looked back in and saw him fidgeting.

He got up wanting to get back, but hesitated, waiting for Ivan. Ivan swallowed his mouthful then stood with him, thanking Arthur for their meal.

They went back up to the library Al resisting the urge to run the whole way. Ivan held his hand just in case anyway. As soon as they got there though, he let him go to the eggs. Al picked them up from the incubator and settled on the couch closest to the table the nest was set on. His own larger one had been removed as they attempted to get Al to sleep in his own room again.

Not that it was going to do much good now that the eggs were hatching... He'd probably just bring them to his room instead.. Until these two hatched as well though, they still needed the incubator.

Al hugged them close while snuggling into his boyfriend. Ivan was content to snuggle him anyway. They sat there for a while. Al eventually falling into a much needed sleep. Ivan wrapped up the eggs and let Al keep them, hugging the whole bundle.

Francis was downstairs washing the dishes from lunch. Arthur shuffled in with an armful or bunnies. "I don't know where Ro's gone, she was meant to be helping me watch the rabbits."

"I'm not sure. Maybe she's outside?"

He shook his head. "I looked."

Francis hums thoughtfully.

"She's been fine these last few weeks or so. She loves the rabbits and they keep her happy... She wouldn't just skulk off anymore..."

"Well, maybe she went for walk or something?" He said drying his hands.

"She'd have told us..."

Francis hums taking a few off him. "I'm sure she's fine. Did you try the bathrooms?"

"I'll go check now..." Arthur nodded, hoping the bad feeling he had just only a feeling... Francis followed behind.

They checked through the house but found each bathroom empty... Francis frowns softly as they check other rooms as well.

"She's not here..."

"Alright now I'm worried.."

"I'm going to check the yard again," Arthur turned sharply, running back down. Francis followed suit.

They broke out through the backdoor, tumbling into the yard just in time to hear a scream from the trees. Francis set the kits down running towards it. Arthur sprinted after him, heart pounding. They ran through the trees trying to find her. The branches whipped passed them, clinging to their clothes and faces.

"Ro!"

Their only answer was the howl of a coyote in the distance. Francis froze at that. Arthur stumbled to a stop just ahead of him, paling.

"We need to find the boys.."

Arthur just nodded, taking off towards the house.

They ran back almost running down Gil on the way. Arthur stumbled passed him, heading for the twins. He could deal with a confused German later. Al was still asleep with Russia.

Arthur just burst in. "Alfred!" he might be tired, but of all people, Al was closest to the fae...

He jerked awake, clutching the eggs protectively. Ivan woke with him, jumping up to fight an intruder, only to see it was Arthur.

Arthur wasted no time in explaining why he was there. "She's gone!"

"Huh..?" He checked his bundle nervously.

"Ro's gone missing. But not sulking missing. We heard a scream then a howl in the woods."

"Howl..?" He frowns

"It wasn't a wolf. It sounded like one of those dog creatures that lurk near your country houses," he fumbled for the proper word, rising worry for Ro making it hard to think properly.

Al stood up putting the eggs away. Definitely pissed now.

"We chased it through the woods but they were gone before we even started..."

"Where's Matt?"

"Not sure, I just knew you'd want to know."

"Keep him here.. He still hasn't got Bear back.."

"You're not going alone; are you?!"

"I got no choice.."

"Wha-no! We'll find someone to go with you!"

"No time.." He walked over to the window.

Arthur moved to stop him but Ivan blocked his path, shaking his head. Al stepped out onto the balcony and jumped onto the rail before taking off.

The trees stretched out for miles around; making visibility limited... But he continued to search anyway. Green upon green... Branch over branch... It was impossible yo see through the trees. Al hissed in frustration going lower.

The sun was also getting lower, slowly creeping from the sky.

"Crap.."

Soon, stars were twinkling overhead in a shimmering mockery. Look, they said. You can see us, millions of miles away, but you were too busy wrapped up in your own little world that you forgot to see something right in front of you.

He lands on a branch punching the tree. Leaving a fist sized hole clean through it. The upper branches quivered, a shower of leaves tumbling down around him. A bird squawked about, rattled from its nest.

Al sighs slumping down. What to do.. Matt was better at tracking than him but without Bear... They didn't even know how long she'd been gone now... It must be hours, the trail was going cold...

He failed.. She was gone... Everything she'd been through, and because of him, no less... And he'd been so wrapped up in his own little world that she'd been taken from right under his nose... He screams in frustration.

*Al...* Matt came through as a whisper, laced with worry.

*..I lost her..*

Disbelief and pain flooded the link, even at this strained distance. *M-maybe you missed something...?*

*..it's dark.. Can't see..*

*We can look again in daylight. I'm sure she just got lost is all...*

Al whines hugging himself.

*Just... Come home. We'll find her in the morning when we can see again...*

Yeah.. He had too.. He had to see his brood.. But if it wasn't for them this wouldn't have happened either.. If it wasn't for them he could keep searching.. If it wasn't for them, he wouldn't have pushed her away... She'd been little more than a ghost until Gil got here...

He shook curling up tight for a moment. It was his fault... His fault she was gone... She'd been trying to reach him for months and he'd brushed her off over and over and now she was gone...

He didn't fly back. He couldn't pull up the will too. Instead he steadily trudged back barefoot. The moment he stepped into the yard, Matt ran out to him, pulling him into a tight hug. He'd been worrying himself to the point of illness, waiting for Al to get home.

Al sunk into him. *s' my fault...*

*You did what you could... W-we all ignored her...*

He hiccupped softly.

Matt held him tighter, trying to reassure him, but his own guilt kept getting in the way. Francis came out pulling them both inside. They ended up huddling on the couch, just needing to cling and calm down.

Francis watched them sadly. It was never good when they got like this.. They ended up feeding each others negativity.. Arthur finally intervened, wriggling in between them so they each had a side to snuggle into. He simply sat and hushed them gently until they settled.

Francis sat on the coffee table in front of them all. Arthur gave him a sad look. Francis tried to smile but it was weak.

A couple of the rabbits hopped over, sensing the gloom around their 'mother' Francis picked them up into his lap petting.

They snuggled in, squeaking softly.

Al wanted to sleep.. He was so tired.. But he couldn't.. He could. He could get cozy and warm while she was out there, probably bleeding... He should have just let her die before... It would have saved her so much pain...

He shivers.

Matt frowned softly over at him. *Stop that...*

*I'm trying..*

*We're going to find her.*

*hnnng...*

*If we can chase Molly across the world, we can chase Ro through the woods...*

*...alright..* But how..? Matt had the better nose but couldn't use it.. And he was all too aware of that... He needed Bear back... Al sat there. Exhausted but to jittery to sleep.. Matt had closed his eyes but not to sleep. He was burrowing back inside himself, searching for his other half.

They huddled around the couch all night. The other two having to care for the young with help from Francis. Matt spent most of the night trying to reach Bear with little success. Al had just about had it with him.. All he was doing was hurting Matt..

Matt just growled in frustration, pacing anxiously.

Alright that's it! Al's hand shot out, slamming over Matt's heart, diving in hard and fast.

Matt gasped sharply before dropping like stone. Inside, the space that should have been flooded with Bear's warm white glow was empty and black. Matt was effectively hollow...

"Where the hell are you?!" They were both unconscious outside now.

Nothing answered him but an echo of his own voice.

"I am so fucking sick of your mood swings! First you hold him prisoner and nearly kill me, then you up and abandon him?! Do you have any idea what he's been through the past year?! Nothin but a bundle of stress! He's been threatened! Bombed! Fucking impregnated, and instead of being there for him you're hiding like you were never there! I've had it! If it takes me all day I'm going to find you, drag you out and knock some sense in your frozen skull!"

A low growl echoed around the space, rumbling like a stampede. Al didn't even flinch, he was too pissed, maybe the hormones were still effecting him..

Bear wasn't coming out, just warning him off.

Too bad he was going in then.

As he grew closer, Bear seemed to shrink back. It confused him for a moment but rage and stress pressed him on. Bear was in the core, his dull glow coming into sight.

Al continued walking right up to it.

Bear lay curled up around something small, big paws guarding the fragile form.

"What the hell..?"

Bear growled again, fur prickling. Al glared back sitting down. He's not leaving till they get answers. It turned into a long stare down, neither side willing to give.

"You know the longer you stall, the further away Coyote gets.."

"What do I care for your Man-Dog? The further away he is, the better."

"He's the one who did this in the first place! He has Ro! I wanna punch his face in!"

That seemed to get through to him. "He has the little bird?"

"Snatched her right out from under us.."

Bear stood with a snarl, picking up the little white lump - a spirit replica of Matt's injured cub. "Take me to the Man-Dog."

Al blinked at that surprised. He closed his eyes and faded away. Outside he woke up with a gasp, like waking from a bad dream.

Matt still lay unconscious beside him. Arthur knelt over them fretfully. "What happened?"

"I got tired of his shit and told him off.." He was beyond exhausted now, the lack of sleep weighing heavily.

"Alfred, you passed out!"

"No I had a little pep talk."

"With who?"

Al rolled over tiredly checking on Matt. He was just starting to wake, groaning softly. Al pulled him over staring into his eyes. They were a sharp icy blue, full on a rage that didn't quite match his tired body.

"It's about damn time.." Al heaved himself upright.

Matt pulled himself up, rubbing his head. "Al...?"

"Hey. How ya feel now?"

"Heavy," he muttered, rubbing his chest next.

Al chuckles softly.

He frowned softly then gasped. "Bear..."

Al smiles tiredly.

"He came back..." a dopey grin spread across his face, eyes shining as they faded back to violet.

"Yep."

He let out a joyful laugh, giddy with excitement.

"Come on we got work to do."

He nodded and pushed himself up, full of renewed energy. "Find me something that smells like her."

Al stood up (stumbling a step) and they went with Arthur to her room. Matt sniffed around thoroughly. Meanwhile, Arthur frowned at Al. "I don't think you're awake enough to launch a search... You should rest first..."

"I've tried.. I'm too worried.."

He sighed irritably, about to argue when Matt caught Ro scent and smirked, taking off. Al chased after him. Arthur was left behind, stressed and tired.