By the end of the film, Patrick had calmed down greatly, though he still stuck to Arthur like glue. Iain and Molly had opted to start a BBQ with all the wooden house debris, seeing as they'd need new materials anyway.

Al had fallen into an uneasy nap. Matt sat petting his hair gently, just sending soothing vibes over in hopes to help him settle. Francis glanced over to them worriedly.

Pat followed the Frenchman's gaze, then looked back up to him. "Is Alfie sad...?"

"He just has a lot on his mind.."

"Is it the same thing why Molly got angry...?" he didn't know... Arthur hadn't told him yet...

"...it might be.."

"What is it...?"

Francis sighs.

Arthur took a deep breath. "Patrick... There's something you need to know..."

The child looked up curiously, but before Arthur could say a word, Molly came and called them all out for dinner. Patrick jumped up excitedly and ran off.

Francis frowns gripping Arthur's hand.

Arthur gripped back, just collecting himself. "Okay... Okay, we can tell him after dinner."

Francis pulls him into a hug for a moment. He leaned into it for a moment before getting up. "Best go have dinner."

Francis follows behind. Matt just stayed sat with Al. He'd find something later.

Outside, the Celts had a nice plate of grilled meat ready to go, buns ready to slice. The other three come out and grab plates. The five of them enjoyed their meal, setting some aside for the twins.

Francis gathers up the plates after taking them to the sink. Arthur tried to take Patrick aside again, but he looked so happy now... It was almost a shame to upset him again... Francis glances to them worriedly.

In the end, Arthur just let him go. "I can't..."

Francis hugs him again. He sighed, hugging back tight. They sway lightly, Francis rubbing his back. Arthur was terribly soft with Patrick and he knew it... But he just hated seeing the poor thing upset.

"It's alright Angleterre, come on let's feed the twins ok?"

"Alright," he sighed, going to fetch a plate.

Francis grabs another and they head to the lounge. The twins were exactly where they left them. Arthur smiled warmly, just watching them for a moment. Al still clung tight to Matt. Matt seemed perfectly content to pet and coo until his brother felt steady again.

Francis walks over with the plate.

"Hey, Al, look," Matt smiled tenderly. "They saved us some food. You wanna try a bit?"

Al blinks awake sleepily, food always being a magic word. Arthur chuckled softly, setting his plate on the coffee table. Al reached over picking it up. Francis hands the other to Matt.

Matt took his with a warm smile. "Thanks."

Francis smiles back. Al was already eating hungrily.

*Have you been skipping meals again...?*

"Come now, let them eat in peace," Arthur chuckled, pulling Francis away. Francis follows.

*No..* Really Al has different reactions when he's stressed. When he's depressed he skips meals, when he's tense and scared he gorges.

*Slow down either way, okay? You'll choke at this rate...* Matt did worry terribly about his brother and he knew he did, but Al was just that one person he knew he couldn't lose... If he did, he knew he'd just go off the rails...

Al tries to slow and keep himself at a steady pace. Matt moderated him, ensuring his pace was healthy. Eventually they finished their meals.

Matt took their plates to the kitchen, coming back with a slice of cake each. "Molly's been baking."

Al grins brightly at that. "I take it she's feeling better?"

"Seems like it," Matt chuckled. "Guess Iain knocked some sense into her."

"And took half the house with him." Al smirks.

"Rather that than have a repeat of last year," Matt shrugged, handing him a plate.

Al nods softly taking it. At least they were all at full strength this time, Al wouldn't have to sit on the sidelines. Better yet, they knew it was coming. Nate's biggest asset was his element of surprise.

Al eats his sweet while mulling it over.

In theory; they'd be okay. They just needed to know where he was. It still made him uneasy though, all they could do was wait for his first move.. It was also worrying, considering the amount of damage one move could do...

Al sighs licking frosting off his fork. Matt just sat, fiddling with his phone. Al fidgeted slightly, wanting to go back out again.

*If you want to go, just ask.*

Al sighs sitting back. *I wanna call Mana..* Being a Native spirit it was unlikely Nate would be able to see him. And Kuma could teleport being a partial spirit.

*Want me to send Kuma? He'll shift over if we find him some fish.*

*Please?*

Matt nodded then whistled sharply, Kuma flopping over the back of the couch. "Whaaaaaaat?!"

"Why are you so grumpy?" Al scratched his ears.

Kuma rolled towards him, humming in contentment. "I was napping and he called me all the way over..." he swatted Matt's shoulder.

"Ow, claws...!"

Al chuckles lightly.

"Do you have fish?" The bear crawled into Al's lap, paws on his chest. "I want fish."

"I'm sure we can find some, but could you do me a favor?"

"Hmm... I guess," he tilted his fuzzy head, little round ears twitching.

"The bad guy from the summer before last is back.. I was wondering if you could help Mana get here to help back us up?"

Mana among most other legends couldn't normally cross the sea by themselves. Kuma however being only part spirit, (his mother was a natural bear) had over the years become a part of Canada, coming to represent the arctic regions like Al's glasses were Texas. As such Kuma could travel wherever he pleased and could track Matt even better than Al could.

"Eww..." The bear sulked. "I liked him better on the other side of the water... But, I guess, if you want him that bad..."

"I'll catch you a nice big fish when you get back." Al smiles.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The bear gave a sort of grin before vanishing with the wind.

Al gets up intending to find a river. "You comin?"

Matt shook his head softly, getting up. "One day I'll find out why that bear hates me."

"He doesn't hate you." Al grins.

"Sure," Matt smirked, rolling his eyes. "Next you'll be telling me Molly likes long meetings and sitting inside."

"Seriously." Al says as they step out. "I sat down and asked him once, you know why he keeps asking 'Who?'"

"Enlighten me," Matt quirked a brow.

"He said, 'someone has to remind him of who he is. If I don't who will?'"

"I know who I am," Matt paused, voice catching just slightly. "I know..."

Al smiles hugging him as they walk. Matt clung slightly, feeling just a little rattled now. Sure, he'd had a big phase of self doubt and hatred, but he was passed that now... He knew who he was... Knew what he was worth... Al held him close all the way to the river.

He'd calmed down a bit by then, steady enough to let go. Al pats his back as he waded out to look for fish.

The river had thousands of tiny fish, but Kuma would only be interested in a big one... He hums softly moving to find a wider part of the bend. Matt waded off in the opposite direction, further upstream. They looked for a while trying to find one of good size.

They finally manage to catch a couple good ones, bringing them back to shore. Al hums as they wander back to the house shoes and fish in hand.

Matt swung his fish idly to and fro as they walked. *...Mine's bigger than yours.*

*Nuh uh!* Al grins.

*Totally is,* Matt smirked.

They head inside still arguing lightly.

Kuma waddled up to them as they came in, pouting grumpily. "Better be my fish..."

Al chuckles going to find a plate for him. Matt, meanwhile, went into the lounge. Al gives Kuma the fish as a rather large rabbit pounced onto the blonde.

Matt yelped in surprise, getting knocked flat on his back.

"Oops wrong kid.."

"Get off me!" Matt grunted, the heavy furry body pressing on his chest made breathing rather more difficult that it should be.

Mana hops off and Al goes to pick the rabbit up.

"That rabbit needs bloody glasses," Matt grumbled, picking himself up.

Al chuckles softly hugging his friend.

Kuma waddled back through, climbing into Matt's lap to lick his paws. "I'll skin him one day..."

Mana stuck his tongue out at the bear.

Kuma just growled, hackles rising.

"Alright enough." Al says taking Mana away. They were literally spring vs winter. Jack vs Bunnymund. Oddly though Mana was the energetic trickster and Kuma was the fighter.

"We'll skin him together," Matt chuckled softly, petting his bear.

Al takes Mana back to the lounge filling him in.

Just as he finished, Patrick came in from the garden. "Bunny!"

They both glanced up. "Who's the runt?" Mana asks.

Pat frowned at that, stung. "Al, your bunny is rude..."

Al just laughs a little. The child came over anyway, poking the rabbit's side. Mana pokes him right back. Pat frowned, poking harder.

Mana frowns pushing him away and standing up to full height. Looking at him just like Thumper's mother did.

Patrick had more of the Kirkland stubbornness than people gave him credit for though. He glared straight back at Mana, ginger brows tugged down in disapproval.

They stared off for a moment before Mana lunged out. "Boo!"

Patrick yelped, jumping back in shock.

The rabbit laughs rolling on his back. "I like him!"

Pat frowned, grabbing a cushion and whacking the rabbit with it. "I don't like him!"

Al chuckles as Mana yelps. "He's a trickster Pat, ya know like Bugs?"

"He's mean," the child pouted. "Just a big bully..."

"Just wait till you know him." The rabbit huffs pouting at that remark.

Pat just puffed his cheeks out, not really wanting to get to know this rabbit now.

Al smirks scratching just below Mana's shoulder blades. The rabbit froze, then his back arched and foot drummed on Al's lap.

A little smirk twitched at the child's lips, finding the rabbit amusing. Al chuckles softly.

"Why do you have a bunny?" Subtlety was lost on Pat, but his curiosity was endearing.

"This is Manabozo, he's my best friend."

"Yo." Mana waved.

"But why is he a bunny?" Pat pouted, very tempted to tug on an ear.

"Cause he is?"

"What's wrong with being a rabbit?!"

"Bunnies are meant to be friendly..."

"You don't know rabbits like I do Pat." Al grins.

"Then I don't wanna!"

He blinks at that surprised. Pat just sulked, not liking the fact that such a cute animal was secretly mean. Al sighs shaking his head while Mana just looked stumped.

"Aye, what's going on here then?" Iain sauntered in, ruffling Pat's hair affectionately.

"Al has a mean bunny..."

"Bozo! You learnt to keep your nose out of my garden yet?"

"You're no fun.."

"Aww, I'm plenty of fun," the Scot grinned, tapping Mana's nose. "You just don't like being outfoxed."

He huffs.

"Hey, Pat, why don't you go play with Kuma?"

Patrick brightened instantly. "Okay!"

Al watched him go.

Iain sat down with Al and Mana. "So..."

"I just wanted some back up.. Ya know since Nate's British he might not be able to see him.."

"Alright," Iain hummed and nodded. "Just keep an eye on him."

Al grins. "Aww you don't trust us?"

"I trust you," Iain smirked. "It's Bugs here that makes me wary."

Mana smirks.

"Have you seen Arthur since dinner?"

"He just brought us our plates and disappeared.."

"Francis is outside with Molly..." Iain frowned. "He thought Art had gone to the bog, but he's been gone a while.

Al frowns.

"...I'll be right back..."

Al sighs as he left.

A moment of silence passed before Iain shouted down, sounding shaken. "Alfred, get Molly!"

Al jumped up to fetch her, Mana on his heels. Needless to say, the suddenness of Al bursting into the yard startled her.

"Iain and Artie and said to get you and.." He was rambling panickedly.

Realization flashed across her face and she dashed off, nearly stepping on the rabbit on her way. Mana jumps aside then bounds off following Al and Francis.

Molly ran upstairs, skidding along the wood flooring of her upstairs, scrambling towards the bathroom. Iain knelt over Arthur, the blond gasping on the floor in a pool of his own blood, a terrible gash running across his torso.

Al pales sliding down the wall, Francis rushed over and Mana ran off for Matt. Molly pushed between the two men, quickly setting to tending the wound.

Matt rushed up, staggering at the sight. How long had Arthur been up here for him to bleed that much?!

Al was huddled into a ball of shock. Mana comes over nudging him.

Matt was transfixed for only a moment before he snapped out of it. He'd come for Al, damnit! Who was starting to hyperventilate..

Matt just hustled him out off the room, getting him near a window before trying to calm him down. *Shh... Breathe Al...*

*He did something.. Something big..*

*I know... But you need to calm down before we can discuss that...*

He whines.

*Getting worked up won't help him.* Matt knew it was a low blow, but he needed Al to chill. Al clenched his eyes shut, trying to even out. Matt rocked him, humming softly in his ear.

Eventually he could breathe again.

*Okay... Now, let's go down to Ro and Pat and let Molly and Iain do their thing, alright?*

*ok..*

They head back down to the others who were playing with Kuma to pass the time. Al sits on the couch, Mana sitting beside him protectively.

Patrick came over, crawling into Al's lap. "Why're you sad...?"

"I'm fine.."

"Then why are you all pale and sweaty?" he frowned, far too perceptive at times.

Al sighs.

Pat pouted then hugged him. "Please don't be sad..."

He hugs back.

"I don't like when you're not smiling," he whispered, little voice so genuine.

"Sorry.."

Pat just snuggled. Al hugs him rocking softly.

Mana turns to Matt talking in a mix of native words. "He doesn't know?"

"Know what, exactly?" Matt sighed. "Arthur skims over so much with him..."

"This whole terrorist thing?"

"Patrick handles stress even worse than Al..."

Mana frowns softly glancing back to them. The duo just clung to each other, needing the support. Mana watched for a moment before checking with the others.

Back upstairs, things had calmed down greatly. Arthur had been healed enough to stitch him up and left to collect himself with Francis. Iain and Molly were trying to clean up the bathroom.

The rabbit sighs at that glancing between them. Arthur looked terrible, still trembling slightly. At least he was healed somewhat.. He'd lost a lot of blood though...

Mana hops back downstairs reporting to the twins.

Matt frowned softly, shifting to hug Al and Pat. *How do we explain this to him...?*

*He knows about the prison break, just say they're acting up?*

*Al, his entire chest was torn open... That's not acting up, that's a major bomb strike!*

Al cringed.

Matt closed his eyes for a second, silently counting to ten. *...Al, he's started...*

*I know..*

*We need to move... Call a meeting, get ourselves organized.*

*Yeah..*

Matt gave the others a squeeze before getting up to find the phone. Al sighs closing his eyes. Patrick just sat where he was, too confused to do more than cling. Ro had just curled up in a chair, feeding Kuma scraps of fish. Mana jumps sitting on the back of the couch to lean on Al's head.

Silence crept between them like a predator, stifling and too heavy to try and break.