Hey guys! This was a bit late . sorry. I'm going to merge two chapters here, making it a bit longer :P almost done! I feel pretty good about this next chapter…I think…there is a bit of a time lapse here. So Alfred and "William" are in their teens (I guess. I'm not really sure, I know it's bad, because I wrote this and all, but…) I hope you enjoy it! ;)

William Bonnefoy

"Come on Will! You've got to keep up!"

"I'm right behind you Alfred, but I don't think we'll make it in time!" I shouted back to him pushing my glasses back up as they began slipping.

"Oh we'll be fine…so long as you run faster, come on!" He burst ahead laughing hysterically. I don't know why I even sneak out with him anymore.

"Aren't we getting too old for all this Alfred?" I shouted between breaths.

He suddenly stopped, just before the gate, and turned around, "What the hell are you talking about? You're not about to ditch me are you?"

I slowed down and stopped next to him, "Can't we talk later? We've got to get back inside before Arthur finds out we're gone."

Alfred put his hand on the gate, pushing it open, "Since when has he ever noticed us? Besides, he's got some Asian dude coming over to further distract him."

"What? How do you know?"

He rolled his eyes and fixed his own glasses, "Well someone has to read the mail, and answer the phone, and go shopping…"

"And cook, clean, and do laundry." I added spitefully, remembering being tricked into doing the laundry.

Alfred smiled, "Man, at this rate we'll be living by ourselves in no time!"

He turned and continued toward the house, "You think so Alfred?"

I slowly followed him through the gate, closing it quietly behind me. The windows on the grey brick building were closed with black curtains, blocking any sunlight from getting into the house. Not that there was much sunlight anyway.

Alfred and I had been sneaking out for years. Our training ended a long time ago, back when Alfred kicked the General out for yelling at me. He's become increasingly protective…

"Hey! Are you coming or what?" Alfred shouted from the doorway.

I nodded and ran up to him, trying to be quiet as my feet landed on the steps, "You don't have to yell."

He waved my comment off, "When I get my own house, there won't be any steps, only ramps! That way you can drive right in. It'll be awesome!"

I sighed and pushed past him, heading into the very dark house. He followed me inside and went straight for the kitchen, "Dude, I'm starving!"

I nodded, "So am I. What do you want?"

"Don't worry about it. I'll make us something."

I looked up startled, "Ok, I guess."

He smiled and started pulling stuff out of the fridge and cupboards. "Besides, I've got to learn to be more independent. I can't keep relying on other people, you know?"

I looked away from him before asking, "Alfred, why are you talking like that?"

His movements stopped, but he didn't turn around, "What do you mean?"

I narrowed my eyes at the back of his head and waited, knowing that he could feel me looking at him. After a few seconds of silence his leg began to twitch and soon he flung himself into one of the chairs at the table.

"Ok, sit."

I nodded and sat beside him, "Alright, so tell me why."

He looked toward the doorway and leaned closer, "I'm leaving, running away, soon. Very soon."

I jerked up, "You're what? Alfred you can't-"

His hand was fast to cover my mouth, smothering the rest of my sentence, "Shh! Dude, don't blow it for me. Besides I'm taking you with me."

I looked at him with bewilderment, "You're what?"

His hand muffled my words, but he nodded anyway, "Sure, I wouldn't leave my brother here with this maniac."

He moved his hand away from my mouth and got up to finish what he started. I sat quietly with my thoughts running in circles around my head. I was sure he was talking while I sat there, but I wasn't listening for once, I couldn't.

Who would look after Arthur if we left?

Would Alfred still like me and treat me as his brother if I chose to stay?

Would he let me?

Would he even understand?

[Alfred Kirkland]

I was right. About an hour after Will and I got back, someone was knocking on the front door. I opened the door to see a slightly familiar face. I remembered him from a few of the meetings we used to go to. He had really long, black hair and was wearing a long red, silk shirt. He was carrying a black bag in his hand and a green sack on his back. The dude had strange style…

"Well, are you going to let me in or what, aru?"

His accent was a bit hard to listen around, but I moved to the side anyway, "Uh, ya sure."

He walked into the living room and stopped to look around, "So where is he, aru?"

I started at him for a second, watching him wander, "Who Arthur? Dude's probably in the basement."

He nodded quickly and continued to look around the room. He looked almost like he was waiting for something…

"Oh, sorry man. Basement's this way."

"Thank you."

I led him up to the door and shuddered as the hair on my arms rose. I thought I'd seen him shudder to, but it could have been the flickering light coming from under the door.

"He's down there. Just try not to get hit by anything."

I didn't stick around long enough to see if he went down. I'd been down there once and it was one too many times.

"What did he want with father?" Will asked as he leaned against the counter.

I looked at him and realized that we were almost the same height, "I don't know Will."

I pulled out a chair from the table and sat down, "Will he come again tomorrow, Alfred?"

"I don't know."

"Do you think-"

"Will!" I interrupted.

He shrunk visibly, "Sorry. I was only wondering…"

I sighed and let my head fall onto my arms on the table, "I know Will."

He pushed himself off of the counter and was about to leave when I remembered something, "Oh, Will?"

He turned his head, "Ya?"

I lifted my head to look into his eyes, so similar to mine, "Don't call him that, ok?"

He hesitated, but nodded before leaving.

Something changed suddenly and I sat up straighter. William backed up into the kitchen and stood in the doorway, "Al? Did you feel that?"

The air around us was still. The familiar vibration of energy was gone, like it had been drained out of the house entirely. It was like a heavy blanket had been lifted off of us, like we could breathe inside again.

"Ya, I defiantly felt that."

"Do you think…I mean Papa was always saying that it took something from him, the magic? Do you think-"

I looked at him, "I think I can hear him down there still, but he's not casting he's…it sounds like he's talking."

William's shoulders relaxed and he sighed, "Ok, so then what was that?"

I shrugged, "I don't know man. Maybe he's getting weaker."

William nodded his head in agreement. I mean I'm no expert on magic, but it makes sense. He's been too distracted lately to even see us leave and it's been getting worse and wor-

I stopped my train of thought as the words sunk in, "Will…Will!"

He jumped at my volume, but I rushed on before he could talk, "He's weak now. Don't you see this is perfect? It's just what we've been waiting for. We can finally leave! We can go, tonight if we wanted to. Anytime we feel like it. Holy shit Will! This…this is AWESOME!"

"Alfred I-"

"And it won't matter if he knows or not because we'll be so far away by the time he gains back any of his strength. He won't be able to hurt us anymore. We can be a family all our own Will! Freedom, we'll have…no we'll be freedom!"

"Listen Al-"

"Oh, isn't it a wonderful feeling? What an awesome word, freedom! What should we do first? God there's too many choices. We should build a house…no a fortress! And we can-"

"Alfred, listen to me!" William shouted, his face going red as the kitchen fell silent, "I…don't think it's right. To leave I mean."

I could feel my face fall as my hands slipped off of the table in front of me, "What? Will I-"

"It's just that we'd be taking advantage of Arthur's, um…well his addiction, and I don't feel ok with that. I want him to get better, not worse, Alfred. I think…I think-"

"Just say it Will." I said a bit too sharply, but knowing what was coming.

He took a deep breath and rushed to get it out, "I think if we leave he'll never recover and he'll die."

His voice broke on the last word and his eyes were starting to shine…

I felt sick, "Will. You're not actually worried about him dying…are you?"

His eyes widened and he shook his head rapidly, making his glasses slip down a little, "No. Well I mean…ya, I guess so, but I'm not sure. It's just, he's our father and I feel-"

"Hey, I told you not to call him that. He's done nothing but hurt us and completely neglect all of his responsibilities. Do you know how many meetings he's missed? Do you know how much he spends on magic books and supplies a year? How about a month? No, you have no idea what's going on Will. But I don't blame you for it because how could you have known?"

I stood up and walked until I was right in front of him, "You won't need to worry about him when we leave, ok? I'll keep you're mind busy with books and games and movies and-"

"Alfred, I'm not saying I won't leave with you," Will's simple words brought the smile back onto my face, "but, just not yet, ok?"

I stood there for a second before catching him off guard with a massive bear-hug, "You, are a pain in my ass, you know that?"

He squeaked as I purposely crushed him in my arms until he was gasping out 'uncle'. I laughed and let him go, "I'll wait, Will."

He looked up at me, while fixing his glasses a little, and smiled, "Really?"

I nodded and punched him in the shoulder, "Sure, you are my only brother and I wouldn't think of leaving without you."

Will looked to his left, avoiding my eyes and blushed, "Thanks Alfred. That means a lot to me."

I nodded, shoving my hands into my pockets, "No problem, but I won't wait forever. I want my freedom."

He nodded and was about to leave again when I caught his shoulder, "One last thing. It's…we need to do something important before we, you know, leave."

He looked a bit hesitant, but nonetheless said, "Sure, Al. What did you have in mind?"

Oops, that turned out a bit longer than I planed . oh well…I wonder what Alfred is planning…hmm…

Did anyone catch that that was China? If not, hey that was China who came in :D hope you enjoyed it! See you in the next chapter?