Alfred can't sleep knowing that his father is just down the hall and while he's thought about this moment for years he has no idea what to say to the man nor is he exactly sure what to do. He looks over at the door for a while before slowly slipping out of bed and down to his brother's room. Alfred looks in seeing Matthew sitting cross legged on his bed staring down at his polar bear, "Can't sleep either?" He whispers coarsely hoping that only his brother can hear him.
The older nods as he holds out the white bear for his brother to see, "I can't believe he kept this…" He looks over at the rabbit in his brother's hand, "Does this mean…he missed us?"
"Maybe it does…" Quietly Alfred sits across from his brother on bed, "And here I was just nervous about my date tonight…now…" He sighs resting his head back on the wall looking out the window at the clear starry sky, "Dude, what do we do? I mean what the hell do we say to him?...what can we say?"
It takes Matthew a moment before he looks over at the clock as it flashes 5 am, "Well…should we go make breakfast? I remember that Dad can't really cook and it's better than just sitting here in the dark."
Alfred nods standing back up, "Maybe make him some tea? I remember that…he did love his tea...Earl Grey with no cream and a spoonful of sugar." He doesn't know why he remembers that or why he takes his rabbit with him as he walks down the stairs passing the snoring Gilbert, "Is it sad that that's mostly what we remember about him?"
"That can't be all we remember…" Matthew thinks for a moment as they walk into the kitchen and turn on the lights, "We both know…he loved Mama. Alfred what was that thing he'd always recite for her?"
"Hmm…" Alfred sets down the rabbit before pulling out a dozen eggs as he thinks back to the old lines unsure if he wants to recite it even though he knows it by heart, "I…I don't remember…"
Matthew's eyes widen as he turns to look at his twin knowing instantly he's lying, "You don't remember?"
Sighing Alfred clears his throat not hearing someone walking into the kitchen behind them, "My dear true love doesn't have a happy ending, because true love never ends…"
"I wasn't lying when I told her that." Both twins look over wide eyed at their father in the doorway, "I did love your mother very much." His tired jade eyes look for any signs of anger from the two teens looking back at him surprised to find nothing but surprise, "Hello boys…" It's all he can think to say to the pair half expecting them to turn away from him and walk away in a moment but all three just seem to stare at each other instead.
Alfred is the first to answer back after the long pause, "Um h-hey Dad." Carefully he lowers the eggs in his hand before rushing over and hugging him. He doesn't know why he needs to hug his father tightly almost fearing that he's nothing more than an illusion and if he lets go Arthur will vanish. Quietly Alfred mutters something he's wanted to say for years as he closes his eyes trying not to let the tears flow, "I'm…I'm sorry…for what I said…"
"No I'm sorry…" Arthur wraps his arms around his son's shoulders surprised how tall he's gotten, "I…I shouldn't have stayed away for so long." He looks over at Matthew as the older twin slowly walks forward joining in on the hug, "I…I promise I won't leave this time." He's run this scenario a thousand times over in his head over the past five years and this was the last thing he ever thought would happen. "So…do you two want me to make you breakfast?"
Quickly both shake their heads, "No we got it." They say together quickly breaking their embraces returning to the stove.
"Just um drink your tea and it will be done in like a few minutes." Alfred picks up the eggs as he grabs a whisk.
He's never understood why his late wife wouldn't let him near the stove. He's never gotten any of them sick nor has he ever burned the house down and yet here is his sons' saying the same things his Ruth once said. And as Alfred hands him his cup of tea he makes a mental note to at least try and cook dinner for them. "Are you sure Lads?"
Both twins shoot him a weak smile as Arthur sits down at the bar watching them, "Yeah Dad we're sure."