Matthew watched as his father paced around the kitchen for the hundredth bazillion time, or at least it felt like that to the small child, as the man stared at his phone in thought. The Frenchman would mumble something to himself occasionally, something to softly for the child to hear, and switching between French and English then back again. Matthew rolled his eyes and briefly thought, 'Papa needs to make up his mind,' as he finished the last of his chocolate chip pancakes.

The small child looked at the time on the microwave and wrinkled his nose in thought. He was bored. He had finished his picture for Gilbert, and even coloured one for Papa and Lovino, and he wanted to go to the park. "Papa?"

"Oui cher?" Francis answered airily, lost in thought.

"Can I go to the park? I'll be careful?" Matthew asked, swinging his legs back and forth.

Francis nodded and continued to mutter to himself. "Oui."

Matthew tilted his head as he stared at his papa but grinned none the less as he was given permission to walk to the park. He quickly slid from the chair, leaving his breakfast dishes on the table, and ran to grab his shoes and a jacket. Moments later he was closing the door, being careful to not let it slam shut, and began skipping his merry way to the park.

He hummed to himself as he hopped then decided to skip then hopped some more until he was at the park. The blonde child grinned and began to jump in place as he saw Alfred. "Alfred! Mon ami! Bonjour!"

Alfred looked up and waved back before dashing over to his friend. "Hiya Mattie! I don't know what you just said though."

The two children stared at each other for a few moments before bursting into laughter for really no apparent reason other than they just didn't know how to respond really. "Let's go play on the swings and maybe you can try and teach me some of your gibberish speaking words!" Alfred exclaimed as he grabbed onto Matthew's wrists and began to drag the other child towards the swings.

"It's called French," Matthew retorted with a roll of the eyes.

Alfred just waved the words away.

Nearly half an hour passed before Matthew happened to glance to the sidewalk and see Arthur walking slowly. He grinned and leaped from the swing and began to run towards the teenager, yelling, "Arthur! Arthur wait!"

The Brit turned and waved to the children running towards him. "Hi Mattie. Hey Alfred. How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while."

Alfred grinned widely. "I've been okay. I get to play outside. Some of the other kids are still mean to me though. The bigger kids usually."

Arthur felt a surge of protectiveness overcome him and he scowled deeply but shook his head in an effort to get rid of the feeling. It didn't work.

Matthew poked at Arthur's leg. "Hm? What's wrong Mattie?"

The small child bit his lower lip and swayed in place slightly. "You have to come talk to Papa."

Arthur paled then flushed a brilliant red. "What? Why?"

"He didn't mean it!" Matthew mumbled. "Papa is a dummy. Please Arthur! Please! You have to!" By this point Matthew was holding on to Arthur's leg and begging rather loudly, nearly whining really.

Alfred meanwhile just looked between the other two blondes confusedly. He huffed slightly but decided to help his friend and so he grabbed onto Arthur's other leg and began to whine just as loudly.

The teenager scowled slightly, rolled his eyes, and held up his hands in a 'surrender' pose. "Alright! Fine! You two win. I'll go and talk to him. Are you happy?"

Both children grinned at each other then looked up at the flustered Arthur and nodded their shook his head at the childrens' antics but couldn't stop the grin that made its home onto his face. "Alright, I suppose that you should take me to your papa, Mattie." The Brit frowned at Alfred. He wanted Alfred to come with them but Alfred wasn't his child, and taking him without permission was considered kidnap and therefore a crime.

Alfred grinned up at him when he saw the frown. "It's okay. I think we're going to go back to the orphanage anyway."

Almost as soon as the words had left the child's mouth a woman yelled for Alfred to come back to them, they had to go. Alfred shrugged and gave Arthur's leg a quick hug and then waved goodbye to his friend.

Arthur sighed and watched until the boy was gone. Matthew tugged on Arthur's pants. "Arthur...?"

The Brit smiled down at the frowning Matthew. "Hey now, remove the frown. I'm coming. Let's go. I can't believe your father just let you leave by yourself."

Matthew grinned but didn't say anything.

Meanwhile Francis had recently noticed that his son was missing. Or at the very least the child was playing a very great game of hide and go seek. He just barely heard the knock on the door and quickly rushed to open it, hoping and praying that if it was his son that he was safe.

Luckily for his racing heart it was. Francis nearly sighed and collapsed with relief when he saw his son and he quickly picked the blonde child up and held him close, muttering his worries and for Matthew to never ever do that to him again in French. He glanced up and felt his heart nearly stop as he gazed into emerald green eyes.

Arthur gave a small smile and forced the blush away as he gazed back into Francis' wide eyes.

"Cher." Francis whispered softly, then coughed. "I mean, thank you. For bringing Matthieu back home."

Arthur nodded but otherwise stayed silent.

Matthew rolled his eyes as he saw that obviously his papa and Arthur weren't gonna talk. "Papa if you don't talk to Arthur I'm telling Chelle and then you're gonna be in some serious trouble again!"

Francis paled slightly and put Matthew down. "Why don't you go color a picture, cher. I'm going to talk to Arthur."

Arthur sighed but followed the Frenchman into the kitchen. The two blondes sat at the kitchen table and looked at anything other than each other.

After nearly five minutes the teen sighed and made to stand up. "We're obviously not talking so I'll just see you at school."

Francis quickly stood and grabbed a hold of Arthur's wrist and shook his head. "Non. I..." He sighed.

Arthur slowly sat back down. "Yes?"

The Frenchman sighed. "I didn't want to break up with you." He paused and drummed his fingers onto the table top.

Arthur scowled and clenched a fist. "Then why did you?"

Francis took a deep breath, "Well Ian found out about us-" Arthur felt his eye twitch and his glare intensified, "and ah... He had a long talk with me, I'm sure you can find out how it went."

"I'm sure."

The Frenchman chuckled to himself. This seemed to ease the tension in the room and soon Arthur was trying to smother his own laughter. Francis watched Arthur, both of their faces were slightly flushed. "Arthur, mon cher, I would be honored if you would consider going out with me. Again."

Arthur nearly choked on air and he gaped. Francis just waited. Suddenly Arthur burst out laughing, louder than before. Francis just rolled his eyes. "I choose to take your laughter as a yes." Was the only warning Arthur received before Francis's lips were crashing onto his and he was holding the Frenchman closer.

~oOo~

Ian had been outside, hand raised to knock on the door, for nearly fifteen minutes. He knew he had to talk to Francis but just couldn't seem to gather the courage. But finally with a heavy sigh he knocked loudly on the door and waited.

He was shocked when he was greeted with his youngest brother in front of him. "Arthur?"

"Ian?"

The Kirkland brothers stood and stared at each other until Arthur came over his shock and pulled Ian into the house and punched him in the shoulder. Hard. "What the bloody hell did you think you were doing you bloody wanker?!" The Brit yelled, tempted to punch the red head again.

Ian winced and rubbed his shoulder. He glanced over Arthur's head and stared at Francis for a few seconds. "I'm guessing that you two worked everything out?"

Arthur was tempted to punch him again. Francis was tempted to encourage the annoyed Brit. Ian sighed. "I'm sorry I forced you to end things. I actually came over to apologize for my interfering and to let you... continue."

Francis and Arthur glanced at each other and Francis shrugged. Arthur kicked his brother in the shin. "That's for interfering and treating me like a kid. I'm not a child. But..." The teen trailed off and flushed slightly. "I suppose I can understand it... Just don't do it again!"

Ian rubbed the back of his head rather sheepishly then glared slightly at Francis. "If you're going to date my baby brother-" "I am not a baby! Were you not listening to me?!" "-then we need to have the shovel talk."

Francis raised an eyebrow. "Whatever for?"

"I dated you! I know how you are! Shovel talk! Now! Kitchen Frenchie!" The Scot pointed to the kitchen and glared harder. Francis sighed but walked to the kitchen. Arthur groaned and covered his face and complained the whole time, even as Matthew showed him the picture he was drawing.

A/N: well ya'll, one more chapter and that's the end. I'm kind of sad yet happy. Also finding a fic that you adored after two years has got to be one of the best feelings, like really. I'm not too pleased with this chapter. It kept getting deleted from my phone because my phone became schizophrenic. I need a new one. Ugh. I'm goin to try and have the next chapter done by this time next week. Hopefully earlier.