It was Christmas Eve and Matthew still hadn't gone home to his father and brother. He knew that Arthur was going to eventually find him but he really didn't care about it too much. As long as he was away from the fights now he was okay. He thought about going back home but then again things might get back to the way they were. Dad and Alfred fighting then it's back to living in a war zone. Matthew decided he'd rather stay with Uncle Toni because he got to see Papa everyday.

Ever since Thanksgiving night, Francis had been over everyday after work to see him. There have been multiple occasions where Francis tried to ask his son exactly what made him run away but Matthew would always shrug it off or say that he'd say why later because he was afraid he let Francis down. He remembered the promise he made with his father when he was younger and he broke it the moment he put the knife to his skin.

A sigh escaped his lips as he held his Kumajiro bear closer and continued to watch the snow fall. He really needed a friend right now. If his bear could talk then he'd have a great friend to talk to but since this is freaking reality, Kumajiro is just going to remain a stuffed bear Matthew talks to when he's alone. The front door to the apartment opened and he looked to see Francis and Antonio entering.

With a smile on his face he rushed over and hugged Francis. The Frenchman hugged his son back as he looked to his friend and said friend nodded before leaving the room. Matthew let go and smiled at his father.

"So what are we doing for Christmas Eve Papa?" That question hit Francis. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy his son being there but he had to send him back to Arthur so he could keep going to school and actually make something of himself. Plus he was sure Arthur was going through hell trying to find him.

"Listen Matthieu, we need to talk." Was his reply. Matthew cocked his head to the right in slight confusion.

"What is it Papa?" Francis gently took his son's hand and took him to the couch and let out a heavy and uneasy sigh.

"Listen, I was so happy when I saw you again after nine years and getting to know you more was the best thing ever but I'm afraid that I have to send you back to Arthur." Those words his Matthew like a ton of bricks. He was going back home to Arthur and Alfred. Minutes ticked by before Mathew asked what seemed like the million dollar question.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because I don't want you to miss out on any more months of school but most importantly I am sure your father has been going to Hell and back trying to find you and that Alfred misses you terribly. As much of an ass your father can be, he still cares about you. I hope you aren't too angry at me for making this choice." Matthew didn't know what to feel at the moment. He was basically going back to Hell, also known as home. He wanted to yell and cry and scream but all he ended up doing was nodding.

"Fine, I'll go back home but on two conditions."

"What would they be?"

"You have to spend Christmas with us and me and Alfred can visit you on the weekends." Is all that Matthew said. Francis was a bit shocked. Spending Christmas with them? Arthur would be pissed off for one thing but at least he could see his other son. Then there was the factor of weekend visits. Now that, Arthur wouldn't really be happy about. Knowing this was a bad idea, Francis nodded.

"Oui, I will spend Christmas with you, but only so I can talk to your Dad and so I can see your brother and, if Dad let's me, you and Alfred can visit me on the weekends." Matthew smiled as he once again hugged his father. Antonio came back into the room with a suitcase packed and handed Matthew his coat.

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day when you'd leave. I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too Uncle Toni. Can I come and visit you?"

"Of course you can! You've been like family to me!" Matthew smiled and hugged Antonio before he put his coat , this is it. After two whole months of not seeing Arthur and Alfred, he would have to see them again. Hopefully, they actually started to get along like they used to.

Meanwhile, Alfred was helping Arthur put ornaments on the Christmas tree. Alfred was still hoping that his brother would return. While he wanted Papa to return, his biggest wish this year was that Matthew would come home. Arthur was saddened by the fact that the police practically gave up on finding Matthew and had presumed him dead after after three weeks.

Arthur couldn't find himself to tell Alfred. He knew Alfred had to know about this but at the same time he didn't want to tell him. It would be hell for Alfred to know he probably lost his brother but it got Arthur thinking. For all he knew, his baby was dead. He didn't want to think about it and couldn't think about it. A timer went ding and Arthur ran out of the room only to come back with home made Christmas cookies.

"Do you want any Alfred? I don't think I burned them this year." Alfred looked over and put down the decoration he had and took a cookie. He cautiously bit into it and slowly chewed on it. When he swallowed the amount of the cookie he had and nodded.

"You didn't burn them this year. These are actually good." Arthur laughed a bit and then put the cookies on the coffee table. With a sigh, he decided to tell Alfred.

"Alfred, I have to tell you something and you may want to sit down." Alfred had a questionable look on his face but sat down nonetheless. Arthur did the same thing but with a very sad sigh. He didn't really want to do this and there was absolutely no turning back now and he decided Alfred was old enough to handle the knowledge.

"Well... It won't be easy to say this and I know that you're really going to be mad when I say this so I'm going to let you swear."

"What... What is this about Dad?" Arthur let out a shaky laugh as he wiped away the tears he felt about to flow out of his eyes.

"This concerns Matthew. Look, yesterday I got a call from the police station. They said that they've done all they could but they just couldn't find him and unless something turns up... I'm afraid that Matthew may be dead." At that point, Alfred's world stopped for a moment. Matthew... His twin... His other half. Dead. Alfred shook his head as he started to cry and shake at the thought of Matthew being dead. Arthur tried to hug him but he was pushed away.

"You're lying you British drunk! Those bastard police fuck-ups gave up! Matthew's still alive!" He shouted. He didn't want to believe Matthew was dead. Matthew wasn't dead. He wasn't. With nothing else to do and a heavy heart, Alfred ran upstairs and climbed on his bed and cried.

"Matthew... You can't be dead. You never got a chance to see Papa after all these years... If I could see you again, I'd say I'm sorry for driving you away from home. I'll do anything to see you again, hell... I'll apologize to Dad for everything I've ever said and done to him." He cried.

Unknown to him, Arthur had been listening to him the whole time. Arthur felt a lot of remorse for all the fights he got into with Alfred too. It was terrible since it was how the Englishman himself grew up. Fighting with family for days on end. Guess this kind of stuff must run in the family. He wiped his tears away and went to the couch.

This was not how he imagined his life. Arthur imagined life would be him and Francis together with their sons living in happiness but of course, life happens. The very thought of Matthew being dead scared him to Hell. It was something he never wanted to think about. Ever. The phone rang and he picked it up to look at the caller I.D. It was Francis again. He answered.

"Hello Francis, how are you doing?"

"Bonjour! I'm very surprised you didn't answer with a yell or anything. Is there something wrong?"

"Just... I have something important to tell you."

"What is it mon cher?"

"It's about Matthew. He ran away from home two months ago and the police gave up on finding him and presumed him dead. I was wondering if you ever see him while you're out doing whatever it is you have been doing for the past few years to also keep an eye out for him and bring him home. Me and Alfred have missed him dearly and we want him to come home." There was a bit of shuffling before Francis spoke again.

"Why did he run away?"

"Me and Alfred were fighting and the poor lad just couldn't take it anymore and ran off. You know, we've been like this for years. I called the police and filed a missing person's report but they can't find him so they presumed him dead. They just couldn't find anything else that could lead them to him and I don't want to face that reality." Arthur started to cry.

"Calm down... If there were anything you could say to Matthew, what would it be?"

"If I could, I'd say that I was sorry for all those years of me getting drunk. I'd tell Matthew how much I was sorry and if I could, I'd take it all back. I wish he knew how much I love him and how sorry I am."

"I have a feeling Matthieu knows. Do you want me to come over?" There was silence for a few moments. Maybe having Francis over wouldn't be such a bad thing and it will get his mind off of Matthew for a few.

"Yes. Would you mind coming over? I'll leave the door open so you don't have to knock."

"Non, not at all. I'll see you later." And then Francis hang up. The Frenchman looked over to Matthew who was sitting in the passenger seat. Francis had his phone on speaker mode so Matthew could listen to the conversation.

The teen had convinced himself that Arthur and Alfred had forgotten about ever finding him and resumed life the way they've been going for years and Francis wanted to prove that thought wrong.

"So, do you believe me now Matthieu? Your father and brother missed you a lot."

"Yea. Could you please take me home?" Francis nodded and started up his car. While they were driving, Matthew started to things at home did change. Probably shouldn't get his hopes too high yet. When getting your hopes high you're just bound to be disappointed is a little lesson Matthew had learned over the years. They kept driving until they reached the house. Welcome back to Hell. Matthew thought as he started to get out the car but then stopped.

"Papa, I have something to ask you." Francis paused when he was reaching the car door when Matthew said something. He looked at his son with a questionable look on his face.

"What is it mon fils?"

"I just... The day you left, I ran after your car when you were leaving. I screamed for you to come back but you kept driving and ever since you left I have had so many questions but now only one can come to mind. When I screamed, did you even hear me? Why did you keep driving?" Francis nodded and ran his hand through his son's hair.

"Of course. I will never ever forget the broken five-year old screaming for his Papa to come back for him. I heard and I didn't stop and turn around was because Arthur was really mad with me that day and I couldn't come back. Now let's go in. Dad's waiting." Matthew gathered his things and got out of the car with Francis.

Once they got to the front door Francis turned the doorknob and walked in. The house is as he remembered it. Beige walls with pictures and little wall decorations, hard wood floors either spotless or covered with clothes, shoes, or random objects. Francis went to the living room where he saw Arthur crying on the couch while the fires going on. The Frenchman sighed and coughed a bit into his hand which made his ex look up.

Arthur had puffy eyes and he was wearing one of those ugly as hell Christmas sweaters you wish you didn't have but, oh no, someone thought it would be so freaking hilarious to get you but you can't throw it out so you must keep it so you spare those person's feelings. The gentleman wiped his eyes as he got up and hugged Francis. The Frenchman was surprised for a moment then he hugged back trying to calm him down.

"It's a nice to see you too." Arthur quickly let go when he realized what he had just done.

"Ok, look. I didn't ask you to come so you can try and ask me to be your lover again. I just needed some comfort and... I'm pretty sure Alfred would want to see you."

"Um, I brought a friend with me so I hope you don't mind him."

"Ok. As long as this doesn't turn out bad for me then I don't really care." Francis nodded and put his hand up in a motion saying come on. Nothing could prepare Arthur for what he saw next. It was Matthew with his bear, a suitcase, and the clothes he ran away in. Arthur started to cry again as he hugged Matthew and kept kissing his face.

"My baby! My little baby! Where were you? Did you get enought to eat? Did you have a warm bed to sleep on? Are you still tired sweetie?" He asked in a hurry. Matthew smiled a bit before he hugged back.

"I'm okay Dad. I'm fine."

"Where did you find him? How did you find him?" Arthur asked letting go of Matthew.

"It turns out he was staying with a friend of mine. I saw him again after nine years on Thanksgiving. Now, your son said he was going to come back home under two conditions."

"And what would these conditions be?"

"Papa has to spend Christmas with us and me and Alfred get to visit him on the weekends. If this isn't too much to ask." The British man looked at his son. He had really asked that? Silence reinged around them for a few moments until Arthur finally said something.

"Um, Matthew, why don't you go upstairs and unpack while I talk with your Papa, hm?" Matthew nodded and took his bags upstairs leaving Arthur and Francis alone. They stared at each other for what seemed like an hour or two gone by. Silence was all around them until...

"I think you've been doing a great job with Matthieu." Francis tried to compliment but that didn't really help the small glare he was receiving from Arthur for not bringing Matthew's location to his attention sooner.

"Where the hell did you find him?"

"Like I said earlier, I found him at a friend's apartment on Thanksgiving. Now tell me something, is it true that you lost your job?"

"Yea, it's true what about it?"

"Did you manage to find a new one?" Arthur was about to answer but then he shut his mouth. He hadn't found a new job yet and he had no idea if he were ever going to find a new one.

"Look, I can help you. I have been working in a French restaraunt so I can help you pay the bills around here." Arthur looked at him for a second. Help from the man who broke his heart? Hell no. Arthur still had feelings for Francis but couldn't directly express them anymore because of how hurt he was that Francis actually cheated on him. If Francis were to slowly come back into the boys' lives then Arthur could find himself falling in love with him all over again.

But then again... He was in a financial bind and did need the help. Before he knew what the hell he was doing, he nodded.

"Okay, fine, you can help out but only because your sons live here and I don't wanna have to lose sense of my dignity to support the three of us." Francis knew what he was getting into. After all, he wanted to get to know his boys after so many years and he never got a chance to be in contact with them.

"So where will I be sleeping?" Arthur looked up at his husband with confusion playing on his face.

"What the hell do you mean now?"

"Where am I going to sleep? Matthieu DID want me to spend Christmas with you three so I packed a little overnight bag for myself. Shall I take the guest room, the couch, or shall I stay in our bedroom?~"

"First of all, there is no way in hell that you're sleeping in the same bed as me ever again! Second, a friend of mine is staying in the guest room until he actually finds a fucking job so you'll have to take the couch." Francis thought about what kind of "friend" Arthur was letting stay in the guest room. Was this person a potential lover? He stuffed his jealousy back into its dark closet as he nodded and sat on the couch.

"Good night. Have sweet dreams." Arthur grumbled a whatever in reply and went to his room. Once there, he got in the bed and sighed. This Christmas will surely be an interesting one to say the most. Maybe things might not be so bad. As long as he and Francis kept their distance from each other then Arthur won't fall in love with him again and have his heart broken a second time.

"I may hate the jerk but... I guess part of me still lives him." He said to himself as he let his dreams take him away.

The next morning, Alfred woke up to see the snow falling down. Christmas morning. His ninth year without Papa and his first year without Matthew here. Hopefully, things won't turn into a complete disaster today. Alfred expected to see nothing when he turned over to his side but a lump on hisbrother's bed made him curious. He got up and pounced on his brother's bed and in return got a light scream.

Matthew sprung up to see his brother on him and started to push him off.

"Alfred, get the hell off of me!" The blond in question looked up and hugged Matthew.

"Mattie! You're alive I knew you were alive! My brother's alive! I knew those lazy fat police men were just a bunch of quacks!"

"What are you talking about?" Alfred stopped and let go.

"Huh? You don't know? Dad filed a missing person's report with the police to try to find you. They couldn't really find anything and they presumed that you were dead. When Dad sees you then he has to call off the search!" Matthew chuckled and then got out from under the covers with Kumajiro in his arms.

"Wanna go wake Dad up?"

"Sure!" Alfred grabbed Matthew's hand and they went to their father's room. Maybe things actually changed here. Matthew thought as his brother shook their father. Normally, Arthur woke the boys up on Christmas morning but this was something of a turn around.

"Wake up Dad! Matties home!" Arthur woke up and smiled at his son. He rose out of his bed and yawned as he ruffled his son's hair.

"I know, someone brought him home last night. Now come, we're going to make our special Christmas breakfast." They walked downstairs to the kitchen and started getting things out when a yawn was heard from the kitchen doorway. Alfred turned around to see Francis stretching. No... It couldn't be. Could it?

"What are you three doing in here? I thought you'd still be asleep." It was. Alfred smiled and couldn't stop the tears from flowing from his eyes as he glomped Francis in a hug.

"Papa! It's really you Papa! Mattie look Papa's here!" The blond cried. Francis started to cry too. His son had grown up so much. Both of them. No longer were they those little kids that always ran around like crazy, now they were growing up and getting taller. They let go of each other and Francis smiled at his son.

"I didn't have enough time to get a Christmas present for you two. So what did you want?" The Frenchman asked his sons. The twins looked at eachother and looked back at their father.

"We already got what we wanted." Matthew said.

"What was that?"

"We got to see you again after nine years." That made Francis have to smile. Actually getting to see his boys like this after so many years was truly a wish granted. A loud yawn sounded and in came a little Chinese man with long dark brown hair tied in a pony tail. Francis suspected this guuy to be the "friend" Arthur had living in the guest room.

A sense of jealousy began to swell up in Francis. He still loved Arthur but he was so convinced that Arthur was completely over him so he never tried to say those three words again. Yao looked at Francis and a small look of confusion and slight anger entered his eyes but the taller of the two paid it no mind. Putting a polite smile on his face, Francis extended a hand to Yao.

"It is nice to meet you. My name is Francis, what might yours be?" Yao took his hand.

"Yao. Nice to meet you, aru." The man said through a smile. Alfred and Matthew didn't notice it but Arthur noticed the tension between the two. He'd known Yao for God knows how long and he's also known Francis for years. Hopefully some of this tension could wait until later because it's Christmas for crying out loud!

During the day the five people in the house had a splendid day. They ate food, gave presents, watched a bunch of Christmas movies and played some games. It was just something you'd do on a normal Christmas day. It was night time when everyone, except Yao and Francis, retired to their chambers and Francis was about to leave when Yao pulled him aside in the living room.

"What is it mon ami?"

"Cut the shit Bonnefroy. I saw how you were looking at Arthur today and let me just say that he doesn't want you back so just step off."

"Who the fuck are you to be telling me what to do?"

"Yao Wang, who are you?"

"À propos de botter le cul." Yao understood French well and knew what Francis said.

"Then what's stopping you bitch?"

"Mes fils are probably asleep and I don't want to disturb them and also, Arthur would get mad at both of us." With that, Francis walked away. Yao rolled his eyes and went to the guest room. Arthur over heard the conversation between them and a small blush creeped onto his face.

While it was nice to know Francis still cared about him, he couldn't help but start to think of the flame they had for each other. To Arthur it seemed like an illusion but the touches and kisses were so real that he knew it wasn't his pure imagination. But with Yao on the other hand, what made his friend so jealous and a bit hateful towards Francis? Maybe... maybe it was everything Arthur said about the Frenchman in question.

Yea, that was it. Yao couldn't possibly be in love with him! Could he? No, that can't be. Yao's straight! Or maybe bisexual...? Arthur sighed and let his thoughts carry him to sleep. He didn't know what it was but he knew he couldn't be thinking some of the things he's thinking about the situation.

Me: Hey guys! So 'tis the season for a Christmas chapter! I hope you guys are having a Merry Christmas and are gonna have a splendid New Year! This year I am gonna have a lot of Hetalia stuff up so be on the look out, in fact I am writting the first chapter to a future fic so please stay tuned for when it is released, hopefully I will put it up soon if not later! I hope you guys were satisfied with the chapter even though it was kind of like one of those sappy Lifetime or Hallmark Channel Christmas movies you just LOVE watching! I'm not too good at writing Christmas stuff so please go easy on me! This took me a long time to think up! Anyways, if you liked then review, favorite, or follow! This is Janae A.K.A. OrgyMemberXVII signing off! Bye :D

TRANSLATIONS

À propos de botter le cul- About to kick your ass

Mes fils- My sons

Mon cher- My dear

Matthieu- Matthew

Bonjour- Hello!

Mon fils- My son

Oui- Yes

Non- No

Mon ami- My friend