Quick note: I'm not sure if any of you noticed but the doc manager has removed the spell check button, (why the hell would they do that?!) so if I missed something feel free to tell me.. Or, since I have a new laptop for Christmas, if anyone knows how to add it to my web toolbar?

Matt was full of jittery energy. It was surprising he didn't break into a run.

*Do we take the truck?*

*Can you think of a quicker way?*

*Just checking! You looked about ready to hoof it the whole way.*

*I can't promise I'll be following speed limits.* Matt pulled himself into the truck, barely waiting for the other two before tearing away, tires screaming.

Al would need to replace the seats after this.. It took all his strength to stay in place, claws gripping the fabric. Matt was too worked up to negotiate speed with...

They speed down the road. Gil seemed to be enjoying it at least.. They terrified a few other drivers though...

Al worked himself up (slowly) to a spot where he could see out the window. Trees whipped by, scenery falling away from the sides of the truck like dominos.

All they could do was keep going for now..

Still, it was a fair few hours before they could see Matt's house. The temperature had dropped dramatically and snow coated the ground, more of the little flakes floating down.

Al glanced around carefully. There was nothing really to see... Just a thin white layer on everything...

*Matt?*

*Were we wrong...?*

*Let's look around first.. Be sure..*

*For the love of crap, let her be inside...*

The trio get out of the car and head to the door. The door swung in with a gentle push, a wave of warm air hitting them. "I never leave my heating on..."

Al shifted wearily, maybe he should just wait here..

*If it'll make you feel better...* Matt muttered, creeping in.

Gil followed him in. Al stayed out on the porch railing.

"Ro...?" Matt called out tentatively. "Ro, please come out... We're all worried sick, just come home...!"

They glanced around the room. Everything was dark and empty... It was only the warmth that gave away the fact someone was there.

Gil steps further in. "Upstairs maybe?"

"You check up, I'll check down here," Matt nodded, swallowing nervously.

Gil headed to the stairs. They creak ominously underfoot as he climbed up, warning him back.

What the house was protesting them now? He continued up.

It was just as dark up here too, but a little colder than downstairs. He looked around a bit before coming back down.

Matt met him at the bottom of the stairs, looking more troubled than before. "Nothing?"

"Nope."

"Me either..."

"She has to be here somewhere.."

"Unless we're wrong..."

"Yeah but why else would the heat be on? She probably saw us pull up and hid."

"Look again..." Matt was already moving. "We have to find her!"

Gil moved off. He had to be hyper vigilant... Was there anything, anything at all even an inch out of place...? He looked around carefully looking things over.

Everything looked infuriatingly normal... Except the soft brown feather wedged under a door at the end of the hall...

He frowns softly, creeping over.

As he approached the door, he could hear a soft rustling... He grasps the doorknob lightly before wrenching it open.

A wave of loose brown feathers tumbled out in the doors wake, washing over him. A terrified whimper echoed within.

"Ro?"

She lay on her bed across the room, back towards him. Her wings were stripped and bleeding, shoulders torn up by her nails. She was trembling, hugging herself against a chill only she could feel.

He ran over scooping her up and heading back to Matt. She kicked and screamed the whole way, trying to fight him off.

What was it now? He had a hard time getting her downstairs. Matt came and tried to help calm her down, but she just ended up kicking him as she thrashed about.

"Hey! Settle down!"

"Let me go!" she screamed.

Matt just watched from a safe distance, wiping blood from his chin. She'd knocked a couple teeth out with that one...

"Just talk to us would ya?"

"No! I just wanna be alone! Stop acting like you suddenly give a damn!"

"Hey you're the one ripping your back apart don't blame me for being concerned."

"Just let me go!" she shoved him roughly, determined to get out pf his grip.

Gil wasn't nearly strong as he used to be, his empire dissolved. But it was just enough to keep her from running again. She screamed in frustration, trying to bite him.

"Would you please settle down!"

"Go to hell!" she screeched. "I hate all of y-"
"Just shut up!" Matt lashed out unexpectedly, swiftly knocking her out. She fell limp in Gil's arms as Matt turned and walked outside, needing air.

Gil sighs softly pulling her to the couch. She was out cold... Matt had hit her pretty hard... The Canadian himself just paced the porch, fuming.

Al watched him from the rail, trying to soothe him. Gil walks out to them.

*That is not the girl we took in...* Matt growled darkly, ice crackling on the porch around him.

*Matt what happened..?*

He quickly replayed the scene in the house, his anger rising.

Al chirped at him softly, was she that off cause of him?

*I don't care what her reason is, no one has the right to behave this way... We came here because we were worried and we get attacked!*

*Hey just cool off ok? Let her sleep and we'll talk about it later..*

*You honestly think she'll talk to us? She'll probably wake up ready for a new tantrum!*

*I'm not talking about her..*

*Who then?* Matt stopped, facing the bird. *Cuz I've about had it with her now.*

*You me and Gil, if she really wants to leave that bad fine.. But it's gonna be dark before we get back and we need to decide on what to do for the night..* He really didn't want to hurt her anymore than they have..

*Can we just take her back to Dad and let him deal with her? He'll be a hell of a lot fairer than I will.*

*Alright.*

"Gil, go fetch her, please," Matt turned to his partner with a tired sigh. "We're going to let Arthur deal with her..."

Gil wraps him in a comforting hug before doing so.

Once she was loaded into a seat and buckled in, the others climbed in the front. Matt glanced back at her in the mirror "I feel a little bad for hitting her..."

"She didn't seem in the mood to cooperate.. It was all you could do.."

"Still..." Their only stroke of luck right now was that she didn't seem to be bruising from it...

Al stepped over to lay his head on Matt's leg, the Canadian was never one to hit much outside of sports or war..

Matt smiled sadly at him, guilt starting to weigh in his heart as he started the truck.

Al let him drive for a while before trying to talk to him again. *Hey how's that runt of yours doing?*

Matt closed his eyes for a second before humming uncertainly. *She's getting along alright, but she's still having trouble walking...*

*What was that little light ball Bear had for?*

*Getting her this far... He's looking after her, but I'm so stressed that he can't focus either...*

*...I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have run off like I did, maybe I could have helped more and avoided this little roadtrip..*

*It's been hard on all of us... I get the feeling this was going to happen regardless...*

*I don't know what to do anymore.. Whenever I try and help her she just gets more upset..*

*I don't know if this is our faults, but we're going to get it all sorted out...*

Al sighs staying silent for a moment before changing the subject again, trying to get him to involve Gil into the conversation as well. It took quite a bit of persuasion, but Al soon got them going. Even as a bird he knew how to keep them together.

The mood had lifted some by the time it got dark. Though they still had a little way to go.

By the time they got home, it was late. Matt's eyes were stinging from driving for so long... Ro hadn't woken...

Gil picks up Ro and they head inside, Al literally hovering around Matt worriedly.

Arthur came into the hall when he heard the front door open. "Ah, you're back," he smiled until he saw the small mess Gil carried. "Good lord, what happened?"

Gil winced. "Weeell... She might have touched a few nerves.."

"Did you three put her in this state? She looks like she's been mauled by a bear!" Arthur took her gently, planning to clean her up some.

Matt shrank back, his guilt returning. Gil sighs hugging him again. He sank in, heart aching.

"You three get off to bed," Arthur hummed dismissively. "You can tell me all about it in the morning."

Gil leads him upstairs, Al being left on the floor.

It took Arthur a few minutes to realize, preoccupied by tattered wings and shoulders. "Alfred? Are you alright?"

He ducked his head giving the best shrug he could. Arthur paused in his doctoring, offering him an arm. He hesitated a moment before climbing on.

"Relax, okay..." Arthur stroked his feathers calmly "It'll be alright."

Al wasn't to sure..

"Don't give me that sulky surly look," he scolded teasingly. "If I can't figure her out, I bet I know someone who can."

Al's head tilts curiously.

Arthur's eyes sparked impishly - a rare look in the blond. "Who turned her human in the first place?"

He sat up and chirps.

"I'm calling him as soon as I get her to bed."

Al looked back to her for a moment. When she wasn't kicking and screaming, she just looked like a lonely little girl... Hopefully they could fix her.. They had to fix her...

Al sighs softly, relaxing a little. He was so tired now..

"Up we come," Arthur grunted, shifting Al to his shoulder as he gathered Ro in his arms. "Time for bed."

They head upstairs and get settled in their own rooms but as tired as he was Al didn't plan to sleep just yet.

Matt lay awake in the spare room with Gil, (Ivan had fallen asleep with the cubs in Matt's) Al could sense him, the day's events still turning in his head.

*You ok..?*

*I think so...* he still felt guilty...

Al hopped up from his nest and onto the floor. *She'll be ok Matt.*

*I'm just a worrisome hen, I know,* he smiled tiredly.

Al chuckles *And here I thought being an actual bird qualified more.* he stood in the middle of the room, small voice in his head begging him to stay just a little longer.

*I've always been fretful,* Matt sighed tiredly. *You should get some rest... According to Ivan, your chicks have been pining all day.*

Al paused glancing back up. One of the older chicks was actually trying to follow him out of the nest.

He was going to try and change back.. But maybe he could wait a little more.. Is that why Eagle was telling him to stay? They needed him... In one form or another, he needed to be there.

He goes back up settling back in. They were more important than Ro's discomfort right now. They settled down the instant he climbed in the nest, nuzzling into him.

It was such an odd thing having his own chicks.. But nevertheless it gave him a warm happy feeling. Five tiny hearts thrummed against his wings, five new minds reaching for his comfort. If he had lips he wouldn't be able to stop smiling as he drifted off.

Come morning, he was woken by incessant cheeping. The smallest chick had fallen out of the nest and couldn't get back in.

'Hey shh it's ok.' Al stepped out over to him.

He flapped his wings, trying to get to him. Al gently nudged him closer.

As soon as he could he pressed into Al's breast, burrowing into the plumage. Al pet his back softly with the top of his beak. The chick crooned, settling down.

Al glanced around the room, was anyone else up yet? Didn't look like it... He wasn't too confident in picking up the chick himself without damage.. But he had to try. It peeped uneasily as his beak came near its neck.

Al thought for a moment before standing instead and tried using his foot, as long as he was slow and gentle the chick shouldn't get skewered..

The chick froze when his talons came into view. Good thing too, since it made it easier to pick up. Al managed to get a good grip and lift it, it took some work to keep balance but he restored it to the nest safely. It hurried back to its nestmates, huddling in for lost warmth. Al sighs in relief sitting back down.

A little while passed before the house started to stir, nations and animals alike waking one by one.

Al glanced up waiting for someone to come in.

It was Matt that came to get him, a small squad of cubs tumbling about his feet. He carried the runt, carefully supporting her back legs.

*Mornin.*

*Still not human? I would have thought you'd be back up to strength by now?*

*I was going too.. But they looked lonely...*

*Hardened warrior, be your heart.* Matt chuckled as he petted a chick. *Did you want them moved downstairs?*

*Yeah.. We should probably eat.. I think my appetite's coming back at least.*

*Room for a bear while I take you down?*

*Sure thing.* Al hopped down to the floor himself waiting for him.

Matt settled his cub in the nest before carefully picking it up and carrying it downstairs. Al trails after the train of white that followed. Though for him it was easier to glide down the stairs than walk. They settled in the den. Matt scooped up his cub again, nuzzling her close.

*So how do you feel?* Al asked as he sat by the chicks again.

*I'm okay now. I had time to think about it and it really was all I could do..*. he smiled sadly at his young *Still, doesn't mean I liked doing it...*

*Hopefully we can work this out.. I really don't know what is with her lately..*

*As much as I don't want to blame her for this, I honestly think she's throwing tantrums...* Matt sighed softly as he started coaxing his cub to her own four paws. *Everything she did drew our attention to her...*

*Yeah.. But then again we have been rather busy.. She probably felt left out again..*

*We're all to blame..*

*She's just too clingy to stand on her own..*

*Hence sending her to school. Let her learn how to be alone. Let her learn how to function by herself...*

*Yeah...* They sit there a few minutes before Francis comes in with breakfast. One of the cubs got excited and nearly managed to trip him up.

He managed to get the plates to Matt though. "It's getting harder to walk around these days." He chuckles.

"It'll be easier when they're old enough to go out and about."

"I suppose we should start thinking about where they'll end up.."

"Mine'll need to go north..."

Francis sits next to him on the couch putting an arm around his shoulders. Matt leaned in for a moment, just letting his own father soothe him. Something occurred to him just then, earning a bubbly laugh from him. Both Francis and Al looked to him curiously.

"I just realized," Matt held his cub up to Francis's face and she licked his nose. "These are your grandchildren."

Francis laughs petting her. "I never thought we'd end up with bears and birds though."

"Never thought I'd have cats and rabbits as siblings either," Matt chuckled as he watched the cub nuzzle into Francis's hand.

Francis glanced to Al sitting on the table. "How is Alfred doing?" he only asked Matt cause Al was unable to answer himself.

"Um..." *How are you doing Al? I didn't think to ask.*

*Better I guess, still feel sick though..* he needed to start eating again.

"Alright, but still a little under the weather."

"We'll get him back up again, if I have to I'll feed him with a tube." Francis grins. Al cringed back slightly.

"That's a little mean, Papa," Matt frowned softly.

"As long as he eats." he chuckles. "But you know me better than that."

"I'll keep an eye on him," Matt promised. *Though I think it is about time to change back, Al... If only for communication... It has to be lonely not being able to talk to anyone...*

*Yeah..* Francis gets up and leaves and Al hops down to the floor.

*You changing here?*

*I'd rather you be nearby to catch me if I end up collapsing..* he had enough strength to change back but he still felt rather weak.

*Alright. Let's get it over with then...*

Al takes a breath and closed his eyes. His form grew and stretched feathers and scales smoothing into skin and clothes, beak sinking inwards and glasses materializing on his face. He stood steady until it was finished and his knees shook dangerously. Still rather pale and maybe lost a pound or five since the start of the egg stress.

Matt grabbed him just in case, easing him onto the couch. *How ya feeling now?*

*Shaky.. Dont think I'll be able to walk for a few hours..* But it was much easier to monitor his health this way too.

*Think you could stomach a meal? You look like you could do with a good one...*

*I think so.*

*I'll ask Papa to fix something up...*

Al smiles at him as he pulled the nest in his lap. The chicks looked up at him curiously, seeming a little baffled. It was the one that fell from the nest this morning that came to him first. It reached over the edge, nipping affectionately at his knuckle. Al chuckles softly petting him.

The others soon clamoured around him too, finally recognizing his scent.

'I'm still me, don't worry.'

A small paw tugged at Al's sock curiously. He looked down. One of Matt's cubs was trying to tug it off his foot.

Al chuckles pushing against it. It growled playfully, chomping on the bit of sock it already had. Al laughed softly, wiggling his foot around. The cub faught back 'ferociously', determined to win.

However, Matt came back and scooped him up before a victor could be decided. "At last, the ellusive sock murderer!"

"It does this often?"

"He's been stealing as many as he can this last week or so. Sending Arthur crazy."

Al laughs.

"Papa's cooking for you now. He'll bring it through."

"Thanks." he smiles.

"You know this is nothing really," Matt nudged him playfully. "We just want you back on your feet."

Al reached up and hugs him. *I didn't think they'd take the whole bird thing so well...*

*They were there with you through the whole fiasco two years ago,* Matt hugged him tight, resting his cheek in Al'd hair. *Besides, Dad and Papa both ended up with transformations of their own a while ago, so it's not as weird for them..*

Al sighs softly, relaxing.

*Ivan loves you too much to be weirded out by eggs and feathers...*

*Thanks bro..*

*He should be down soon. I should think you've missed each other.*

Al sank back into the couch as Francis comes in with pancakes and bacon, Al had been rather uncomfortable with eating eggs lately, even if they were unfertilized.

*Eat up, okay,* Matt gave him a squeeze before getting up. *I wanna check on Gil. He seemed a little under the weather last night...*

*Alright.* Al takes the plate and Francis kissed his head before leaving. The cubs followed Matt out this time, clambering up the stairs with him. Al settled in to eat.

Peace settled over the house like a warm blanket. Ivan came and joined him with their two cubs, a broad grin on his face. "Fredka!"

"Hey Vanya.." Al smiles warmly.

Ivan leaned in, kissing him warmly. "I have missed you..."

"Me too. I'm sorry for the last few days.. I got upset and pushed myself too hard.."

"It's okay... You were stressed, only natural. I am just glad you are safe."

Al smiles pulling him to sit with him while he ate. As soon as Al was done, Ivan pulled him into his arms, just holding him close. He sighs folding in, one hand petting the cubs in Ivan's lap.

"I love you," Ivan whispered in his ear after a while.

"I love you too.. You dont know how much it means to me.."

"I just want to see you smiling again," he kissed his crown.

Al smiles softly nuzzling into his shoulder. Ivan smiled back, peppering his face with little kisses. He could almost forget all the trouble from the last few days..

That was, until a loud crash came from upstairs, followed by muffled shouting and running footsteps. Al jumped in surprise, struggling to his feet to check.

"You're still recovering," Ivan stopped him, pulling him back. "Stay with the nest."

Al sank back on the couch knowing he couldn't argue, Ivan wasn't the largest country for nothing. Ivan, Matt, and himself boasted the most physical strength among the nations.

Ivan slipped off upstairs to see what all the fuss was about.