Alfred gulped, taking a step back from his hovering family. This was not good. He did not want to ruin his reunion, nor Ivan's reunion for that matter, by telling his parents that Ivan kind of sort of killed two people. It just wouldn't end well. Couldn't Mattie have given him a bit more time? Why did he tell him in the first place! Damn it. He had to distract them...with something.

"Well, Alfred? Tell us what?" Arthur repeated, his large eyebrows drawing together. Shit Alfred needed to think fast. But what? What should he say? This would be a great time for the doorbell to ring, or the phone or like the house to catch fire. Anything to distract them! But shit his parents were getting more annoyed and skeptical by the second. It was now or never!

"Well...Well you see, while I was gone...I...I told Mattie I got Ivan a psychiatrist! Yeah, see Ivan's got some borderline mental problems especially with violence. Must be something to do with his childhood but I don't know about that 'cause he won't tell me anything. Yeah. Anyway, while I was out I met this guy. His name is really hard to pronounce but I have his card and he's like a psychiatrist and I'm sure he'll take on Ivan as a client and stuff. And then he'll fix him up easy peasy and we can all be happy again!" Alfred spouted out in a tumbling mess of lies and truths. Matthew was glaring at him but his parents seemed to be buying it. His fricken twin better not ruin this again.

Sure, he knew why Mattie wanted him to tell them. He'd have to at some point but couldn't he give him a day back home? He leveled his bro a stern look, just let me have this for right now. Matthew returned it evenly, narrowing his eyes at him, We're not done with this. We're talking later, got that? Alfred rolled his eyes and gave him an almost imperceptible nod, Yeah fine ok whatever. That seemed to please his brother 'cause he broke eye contact. The whole conversation happened in a few seconds with their parents none the wiser. Being a twin had its perks.

"Alfred... How do you even know Ivan will agree to this little scheme of yours?" Arthur brought up, bringing Alfred back to the current conversation, "What if he just lashes out at you!"

"He won't do that." The teenager defended, crossing his arms.

"Regarde, I had to let him back into this house because Toris wasn't home. But he returns today and so I don't want the monster here any longer, alright?" Francis quickly stuck in, the anger inside him flaring up for a second.

"But Papa, I'm helping him!"

"I don't want you seeing him!"

"Francis...Francis the boy hasn't done anything since then... Maybe we should give him another chance." Arthur vocalized lamely, only half convinced of his own idea.

"I don't want him in the house. Not anymore. Please." Matthew said suddenly, quietly but with a determination resounding in the statement.

"Mattie...Mattie you don't understand!" Alfred said quickly, looking at his brother earnestly for the support he always needed and almost always had.

"Al...Al he's dangerous! This is crazy! I can't believe..." The younger twin faltered, remembering the silent promise made seconds before of not revealing anything yet. Yet being the key word.

"Even Matthieu doesn't want him here!" Francis continued, aiming his argument at his husband. Alfred bit his lip, that meant his opinion was no longer valid in the argument. It was between his parents. Shit.

"...Francis, I..Honestly I whole heartedly agree with you...Or would have..But...Francis, there's something about that lad I've come to notice these past few days...He reminds me of the boys while in the old neighborhood." Everyone went still. "There is sadness around him and I feel...I feel Alfred is right. A psychiatrist might do him good, and it will only work if we support him. Alfred is his closest friend if not more. I say we let them be as long as Ivan goes to this man and as long as we see some improvement." The Brit turned toward his son, bringing him back into the conversation, "I want to meet this man first. Alright?"

Alfred gave him a quick eager nod before looking over at his papa. Please agree with Dad, please. He had too! Dad had made an awesome point!

The Frenchman let out a long, suffering sigh, "D'accord. But if he doesn't improve or harms any one of you, he is out." He added firmly.

"Fine. Now... Alfred, no more video games for the next three days." Arthur said sternly.

"What? Why?" Alfred protested, confused at the sudden punishment.

"Well, you can't just runoff for so long without any sort of punishment." Arthur reasoned, "Just let it go. You have schoolwork to make up for anyhow, I'm sure you won't have time for them anyway."

Alfred groaned, well this sucked. But whatever...he was still happy to be home. "Umm...are we done arguing?"

His parents blinked, "I suppose...why?" Arthur answered, giving him a perplexed look.

"'Cause..." He muttered, looking down at his feet and shuffling them slightly. He looked up and gave them a warm smile, "I kinda want another family hug..."

It didn't take long for the request to be filled.

Of course it was cut short by the doorbell. Oh now it rang, how come not before? Just his luck. Arthur disentangled himself from the hug, leaving the huddled family to go open the door for whoever it was that was there. There were already so many people in his house.

He left the family room, passing by the kitchen where he could still here excited Russian and that one girl crying. He decided to ignore them for now and let them have their moment, instead he continued on to the front door.

Only to find the blond man opening it. How rude! It wasn't even his home. In fact he was about to snap at him until he saw who he was letting in. "Toris!" He shouted in surprise, hurrying closer, "I thought you were coming later. We weren't expecting you. I do apologize for all the mess, we have a bunch of unexpe-"

He stopped because Toris wasn't listening to him. He was trying to get the hyper blond man who was now hugging him off him. Rude.

"Liet! Liet you found us! I was majorly bored here waiting." Feliks complained, hanging off the brunette while wearing a cute little pout. Seriously, he wanted to see Toris' house, not some kid's!

"Uhh...Yeah, umm Arthur! I'm so sorry about all this...They're my friends and I lost them at the airport but apparently Alfred was there and picked them up...? I don't know exactly what happened...Ivan!" Toris stammered out, slightly embarrassed at all the commotion he'd caused. But the whole argument halted at the sight of his ward looking at him full of shock and surprised. He had his younger sister clutching him around his waist and his elder sister close behind him.

The rest of the Bonnefoy family fluttered into the room curiously, and Francis and Matthew finally realized who the strangers in their home really were. Francis gasped with a certain recognition, "Are these Ivan's sisters Toris?" He asked, intrigued and looking toward the elder woman with a certain sadness. He moved toward her, remembering the details of her story. No matter how angry and hostile he was to her brother, he still felt horrible for how the world had treated. "La pauvre..." (The poor thing) He murmured, extending a hand out to her. Ivan sent him the darkest glare he'd ever seen and he quickly retracted it. Katyusha merely blinked confused, looking up at her brother for some sort of explanation. He gave her none.

"I think we all need a cup of tea." Arthur decided, pushing his way through into his kitchen.

"I'm too old to sit at the kid table." Alfred bemoaned quietly, leaning back on the sofa. His brother squirmed next to him uncomfortably.

"Then let's leave so that we can talk about this issue." Matthew hissed bitterly, giving a wary glance at Ivan who was sitting opposite of them talking with his sisters. They had been sequestered to the family room while the 'grown ups' aka Arthur, Francis, Toris and Feliks talked matters in the dining room over tea.

"No. Come on Mattie...Look, Ivan's done some bad shit but look how happy and sweet he looks now!" He defended, gazing over at the loving scene. Ivan was glowing with some new found warmth! It was great!

"That doesn't take away the fact that he's a murderer!" Matthew snapped, fed up with the nonchalance that Alfred espoused when broaching the subject. This was serious!

The room seemed to fall silent, and Matthew felt a chill run up his spine. He looked around to wear the Russian siblings stood, only to find Ivan looking intently at him. The violet gaze soon shifted toward Alfred.

"...You told Matvey." Ivan murmured slowly, in disbelief.

Alfred quickly stood up, "No-Now Ivan! Listen alright! I was really upset and confused about all this shit that was going down! And I'm going to have to tell them anyway!" He defended quickly, stepping over and keeping himself between his boyfriend and his brother, lest Ivan have a little violent episode. "He'd have to know eventually."

"...No...No one was to know. Only you..." Ivan mumbled, violet eyes flashing dangerously, "I trusted you. You have failed me." He growled, fists clenching. His elder sister looked alarmed at his sudden change in behavior. She looked over to her sister, who seemed bored and unflinching, hoping for an explanation. The younger had long gotten used to her elder brother's erratic behavior. She didn't bother translating the fight.

"I didn't fail you Ivan! Don't you get it? You need help!" Alfred shouted, not stepping down at the threatening tone.

"I have you!"

"I...I'm not enough! You still hurt people Ivan! I thought I was helping...But clearly I'm not!" Alfred's tone quieted, threading his fingers through his hair. "You need professional help."

"I have my sisters! Alfred, I will go to prison. You can not force me to do this." Ivan bit back angrily, the voices suddenly louder in his ears.

"No you wont! I talked to this psychiatrist...And...And it's gonna be ok!" Alfred assured quickly, even though he knew this wasn't working. He wanted to tell him when they were alone, ease him into the idea. Not like this.

"No. I refuse."

"Ivan..."

Matthew, stood up suddenly, pushing his brother away. "Ivan. Now you listen to me, ok?" He hissed out. "You killed people. Killed. You have issues. You have a lot of issues. And you need help. Not lovey dovey Alfred help, real help. And if you don't get that help, I'm not letting you near my brother! Don't you test me, Braginski!" He growled, jabbing a finger at his chest.

"..Matt..." Alfred breathed out in surprise, never seeing his brother take charge and be that aggressive over..anything.

Matthew, for his part, was doing his best not to quiver in fear and let the adrenaline rushing through his veins take charge for him. He wasn't going to let his brother get hurt. Alfred was always protective of him, and gosh darn it he could be too!

Ivan hid his surprise easily, his smirk growing in size and creepiness, before erupting in a cold empty laugh, "You amuse me, Matvey. And who says you could stop me?" He grabbed the shorter teen's wrist, pulling it away from his chest and squeezing it harshly. He saw Matthew aggressive stance falter, his face contorting in pain.

"Hey. Ivan! Stop that right now!" Alfred ordered, prying at the fingers on his brother's hand, "This is exactly what I'm fucking talking about! Stop hurting people! Don't make me break up with you!"

Ivan released him, whirling to face Alfred himself, "He tried to take you away from me. Why does everyone want to take you away from me? Your fathers, your brothers and now you yourself!" He tried to say it angrily but there was a hidden sadness repressed in his tone, "Why must everything I love be taken away from me? Why?" His voice raising, his eyes clouding in hysteria.

"Ivan..Ivan stop it your shouting! Look you need to calm down an-"

Ivan wrenched away from the soft touch on his arm the American gave him, backing away. "No...No. Everything. Everything I've ever loved.. It's always gone and it's his fault. You do not understand what it feels to have those lifeless eyes bore into you, haunt you your entire life! To hear those voices assuring you that you deserve this misery because you killed a man. Yes. Yes I killed him but I am not sorry. I am not sorry! I don't care if it's wrong! I am not sorry! They deserved to die! They deserved it! And I know I deserve to live in misery and pain, but just once-just this once! I thought I could have happiness!" He shouted at him, turning away and glaring at the wall, his whole body trembling from the outburst. He'd never admitted that to anyone but himself, never uttered it in English. The room remained silent.

"Ivan...Ivan you can have happin-"

The Russian spun around once more, rushing toward him and grabbing Alfred's shoulders roughly, "You do not understand! The voices will never go away, those eyes will never leave, my fath-no. That monster I slew will always haunt me for the rest of my life, scrutinizing my every move and reminding me of my guilt!"

"I thought you said you weren't sorry!" Alfred countered, quickly.

"I am not! I hate that bastard of a man and am glad I bashed his head in with a pipe!" He screeched back, gripping the shoulders tighter until Alfred visibly grimaced from the pressure, "You will never understand!"

"Because you won't fucking let me understand! If you talk to this psychiatrist...Things will get better! They will!"

"Alfred-"

"Not now Mattie! Ivan please calm down, we'll fix this. We'll make the bad thoughts go away! I'm a hero remember? And sometimes heroes need help!"

"Alfred-"

"Not now Mattie! I'll even go with you to the meetings, I'll hold your hand, you don't even have to tell him about the murder until you find you trust him! It'll all work-"

"Alfred!"

"What Mattie! What do you wan-"

And Alfred's blood ran cold.

At the door was Arthur, Francis and Toris, all three pale as a sheet. How long had they been there? How much had they heard? Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.

"Dad..Papa, it's—it's not what you think!" He quickly assured, breaking away from Ivan to go toward them.

"...Ivan is a murderer." Arthur breathed out in horror and disbelief. His hand shot up to touch his still healing neck, the reality of the entire situation weighing down on him heavily. "Dear God..."

"No! Dad! Please..you don't understand!"

"...I have to leave. Now." Ivan quickly muttered, still shaking completely. He pushed past the adults, his steps quickening until he burst into a full out run by the time he reached the door.

"Vanya!" Came the identical female cries of his two sisters, as they rushed out to follow him. Again, they met no resistance from the three adults.

"I...I'm gonna go follow..them." Toris replied, seeming disoriented and dizzy as he shakily left the room, gathering Feliks who was too busy surfing the net on his phone to bother with the situation.

He stared at the phone number for the umpteenth time with shaky unawesome hands. He'd called Matt over a hundred times in the past few days, only to get no response. He didn't even talk to him at school. He needed him right now. He really did. Still, Matt's words rang in his ears. hat about Feli?

"Gilly?"

Gilbert looked up, crumpling the note quickly in an effort to hide it. He plastered a false grin across his face, "What's up, Feli?" Just the man he was thinking about too...

The red head frowned, fiddling with the sleeves of his shirt, "I don't like it when you're upset Gilly...It makes the whole house dark." He mumbled, "Is there anything I can do to help? Would pasta make it better? Pasta always makes me feel better... I-I can even add wurst in it for you!...If you want." The man floundered with his words, looking like he was about to cry.

Gilbert smiled, a soft genuine smile. He was so stupid. So stupid. Here was Feli, worried about him, doing his best to cheer him up and help him (more so than his boyfriend, he added a little bitterly in his mind). How could he even have second thoughts?

He didn't need a mom. Especially a bitch awful mom who tried to kill him before he was born.

He had Feli.

"Pasta would be awesome."

He shredded the piece of paper without another thought, feeling liberated in a way.

The house fell silent and tense.

Francis broke it first, "I...I cant even...I need to cook something." He uttered, his mind whirling as he turned away, entering his kitchen distractedly.

Matthew looked between his brother and father, "I...I'm gonna help Papa." He decided, murmuring quietly to the point where he was certain his family hadn't even heard him. Not that he really wanted them too. Instead, he made his quick silent escape to the kitchen.

Alfred stood in the center of the empty room, Arthur remaining stock still in the doorway. No one moved. No one spoke. Nothing happened. It was worse than yelling in Alfred's mind.

Finally, finally, Arthur spoke. "How long."

"How long what?" Alfred responded, confused.

"Don't give me that!" Arthur shouted suddenly, making Alfred shrink back. Arthur continued undeterred, "How long have you known! How long did you willingly continue this relationship with such a dangerous individual!"

"I...Dad please try to understand! It wasn't his fault..It wasn't his fault! Being around me is helping him!" Alfred pleaded, "And I know that's not enough! I've contacted a psychiatrist, everything's gonna be ok please trust me! Please!" He added quickly, seeing his father's next point on the expression of his face.

Alfred expected more anger and arguments, but it seemed Arthur simply wilted before him. His shoulder's slumped, his arms came up to cover his face. For once Alfred didn't see the strong strict father he loved, instead he saw the frail man who didn't have any more answers.

"Alfred...Alfred." Was all the man could utter, sitting down into the arm chair. Alfred crept closer, alarmed by the sudden new behavior from his father. It worried him.

"Alfred... I just got you back...I just got you back." He whispered, threading his fingers through his hair, "Alfred, I just want you safe and happy. I don't want you seeing him, Alfred. Please don't yell, don't get angry, don't rush off and leave us again. Alfred, just listen to me for just this one. Really listen. " The older man begged, taking Francis approach to heart for the first time ever.

"I am listening Dad!" Alfred arguing, his worry mounting more and more.

"Alfred, this relationship with Ivan...It hasn't been healthy. It's lead you to run away from home twice! Please, please just look at it from my eyes for once? I know you...you like him but, but I just can't have you seeing him. Not when he's like this."

"But Dad-"

"Alfred! I'm serious!"

"I know you are! But just..Listen to me! Listen to me this time!" Alfred snapped back, using his words against him.

Arthur let out a tired a sigh, "I am."

"I won't see him anymore until he agrees to get help." Alfred conceded quietly, figuring it would be the only way to get Ivan to do it anyway. And he didn't think he could deal with the drama anymore.

"...I don't want you alone with him even then, alright? And I want to talk to this psychiatrist you've found. And I want frequent updates on his condition."

"Ok. Ok. Ok." Alfred agreed to each and every one of his demands, knowing there would be no point in fighting it.

They remained silent after that, pensive, tired and drained. Arthur sitting exhausted in his chair, leaning forward; Alfred standing before him, looking at the ground. Arthur spoke once more, "Alfred...I remember when you were so little...You were just a bit passed my knee...And you would cling to me and tell me how you would never leave home. Not even when you grew up." He smiled nostalgically, "You said, 'Daddy, I'm gonna stay with you and Papa forever. I'm gonna live here and never get married and have thirty pet dogs.'"

"Dad..."

"And I know...I know that could never be true. My baby would grow up and leave for college, get married and have his own life... I just didn't think it would happen so fast...Or that you would leave us twice before you had too." He confessed, looking down into his lap.

"Dad...Dad stop saying these things. Stop it."

Arthur gave out a dry laugh, "I sound so old... But I've been thinking. You're only here for another two years, and then you'll leave me...And...And I'm only making you wish to leave sooner." His voice faltered, "That's the last thing I ever wanted to convey, I hope you know that."

"Dad...Dad that isn't true! Please stop talking like this! Just 'cause I'm growing up doesn't mean I'm gonna leave you guys and never speak to you again! Dad I love you, please don't talk like this! Please!"

Arthur looked like he was going to say something more, but he was silenced when Alfred leaned down to hug him tightly, desperately. He even lifted him up out of his chair, holding him close and off the ground. "Dad don't talk like that!" He repeated, the plea muffled by his father's dampening sweater vest.

Arthur hugged him back, laughing lightly, "Look how much you've grown...Now you're picking me up..." He sighed, kissing the top of Alfred's head softly. He hadn't done that in a long time.

"Dad I'm sorry that I've mislead you...disappointed you.."

"Hush, boy. You could never do that."

FINALLY UPDATED BECAUSE IT'S FINALLY SECOND SEMESTER.

Crappy Chapter is crappy.

Also, this is the second to last chapter. But there will most likely also be an Epilogue.

Thanks for sticking with me this far! I hope to see ya guys soon! Reviews are always loved and adored~