A/N: I am going to start either just doing really short author's notes at the beginning or just none at all.

6 Years Old

Arthur

"Hurry up poppet! Alfred's at the door! The bus will be here any minute!"

I tighten my tie and run down the stairs to where my mum hands me my sack lunch and my satchel. She walks me to the door and kneels down in front of me, straightening my coat and kisses me on the forehead.

"Have a good first day at school poppet."

"I will mum. Alfred and I will both come straight here afterwards."

"That's a good boy. Now run along Arthur."

She rubs my head and gently nudges me out the door. Sitting on the stoop is Alfred. He turns around and smiles really big. He then grabs my hand and tugs me over to the corner of the street where we wait for the bus.

"I can't wait for first grade dude! It's going to be awesome!"

"I just hope the teachers don't call on me."

I look down at the ground and Alfred squeezes my hand. I look over at him and he smile.

"I'll make sure to tell them before class. What are best friends for?"

I smile just as the bus pulls up in front of us. Me and Alfred walk up the steps and sit in the very front seat together. I hope they don't tease him about being pudgy. The doors close and the bus starts moving. I could feel some of the kids staring at us. I could also hear them whispering behind me, but I don't think Alfred could hear them, he was just staring out the window.

"Hey. Why do you think those two are sitting together? Have you seen them before Francis?"

"No. I don't think so. I like the taller one's green eyes. They remind me of my frog."

Next thing I know there is someone's hand on the top of my head tugging on my hair. I look up and see a blond boy with long hair smiling at me.

"Bonjour."

"P-P-P-Ple… S-Sto…"

Alfred

"P-P-P-Ple… S-Sto…"

I look over and see Arthur trying to speak and he looks on the edge of having a panic attack. I reach over and grab the other kid's wrist.

"Leave Arthur alone."

Arthur looks at me and then at his feet. The other kid looks down at me and sticks his nose in the air.

"Yeah yeah yeah, fatty."

He pulls his hand away just as the bus stops in front of school.

"Come on Arthur. Let's get to class."

I grab his wrist and pull him off the bus.

"O-O-Okay…"

I squeeze his wrist lightly and smile.

"Don't worry. I'll always protect you. Best friends. Remember?"

He smiles a little bit and catches up to me as we walk through the hallway. When we get to the class room, I could see the teacher writing on his chalk board. I open the door quietly but it made a squeak and the teacher looks at us.

"Oh. New students. I am Mr. Bock, your homeroom teacher. And you two are?"

"I'm Alfred and this is Arthur."

"Well it is nice to meet you two, why don't you go and take a seat anywhere you like. Class will begin in about five minutes."

I smile at Mr. Bock and take Arthur to the two seats near the back of the room.

Arthur

"Good morning class. I am your teacher Mr. Bock…"

"Bock bock bock! Imma chicken!"

Almost the whole class erupts into laughter including Alfred. I elbow him slightly and he stops, giving me a 'What I do?' look. The teacher claps his hands and everyone else gets quiet.

"Now, as I was saying, I am Mr. Bock. You can call me Mr. B if you so please. We will not be doing anything educational today but that does not mean that you have free time. We are going to play an ice breaker game called 'Two truths and a Lie' the rules are you each write down three things about yourself. Two of these things are true while the other one is made up. So, everyone, get out a pencil and a piece of paper and get writing."

Alfred puts a piece of paper on my desk and begins writing on his paper. I stare down blankly at mine while everyone else around me is writing.

"Don't worry Arthur. It's gonna be okay."

Alfred's whisper nearly makes me jump out of my seat. I look over at him and smile smally. I then look back at my blank piece of paper.

Alfred

"Okay students. Pencils down. Alfred, how about you go first."

I look up from my paper and then stand up.

"1. I was born in New York City. 2. I want to be a famous sports guy someday. 3. I am 7 years old."

"Okay class, which one is the lie?"

The kids were quiet for a minute but then one kid raises his hand.

"Yes… Gilbert?"

"You can only be 6 to be in zis class. So zat is ze lie."

"Is it Alfred?"

"Yup!"

Arthur

The same thing goes on for about 10 minutes until the teacher calls my name.

"Arthur, it's your turn."

I could feel my whole body go cold and my heart go faster when he says it's my turn. I shakily pick up my blank paper and stand up. A giant lump was forming in my throat as I looked down at the paper and then back at the class.

"Go ahead Arthur."

"…"

I open my mouth but nothing comes out. I feel a hand grab my elbow as I start shaking a bit.

"Arthur?"

The teacher sounds so far away. Everyone was staring at me.

Alfred

"Where is my baby? Is he okay?"

Miss Ellen runs into the nurse's office with her hair up in a messy bun and she's wearing a robe.

"Mrs. Kirkland, please calm down. Your son is fine. He just blacked out. We are not sure why."

"What do you mean you don't know why? This is your job. What happened before he blacked out?"

I slowly get out of the chair and walk over to her and tug on the edge of her robe. She looks down at me and then gives me a soft hug.

"The teacher tried to have him talk in front of the class during a game. He got really shaky and pale."

She pulls away and smiles smally.

"Well, I'm glad that you were there to catch him."

I smile real big like and hug her.

Arthur

"Mum! Why can't I go to school? I don't want Alfred to be alone!"

"I think we should wait a few more years until you should attend public school. I will homeschool you until I think you are ready. And I am sure Alfred will be just fine."

I groan and lie back on my bed and stare at the ceiling. Just because I panicked the first day doesn't mean anything.

"Poppet, please don't pout. Besides, in only a few hours are yours and Alfred's birthday party. Do you have your present ready?"

I widen my eyes and jump out of bed. I reach into my bottom drawer and pull out a piece of paper.

"Got it!"

My mum smiles and kisses my forehead.

"Now go get a bath before Alfred gets out of school."

"Ellen! It's so nice to see you!"

"It's been a while hasn't it April? How's Liam doing?"

"He's great. Come in, come in, the two of you must be freezing. Alfred is upstairs in his room. Arthur, why don't you go up there while your mother and I set things up?"

I nod and jog up the stairs to Alfred's room. When I walk in he's lying upside down on his bed reading a Captain America comic book. I get down on all fours and crawl over to him and rip the book right out of his hands.

"Hey! Oh… Hey Artie!"

He smiles a large toothy smile.

"My name isn't Artie. And why were you reading upside down?"

"Uh because I can see better like that."

"You should get glasses. Or else your eyes are gonna go bad."

"Pfft"

Alfred sticks out his tongue and sits right side up and then turns around to face me. He opens his mouth to say something but before he could speak, he was interrupted.

"Alfred! Arthur! Come down stairs!"

"Let's go Artie!"

Alfred jumps off the bed and grabs me by the hand. Before I had a chance to do anything, he was already pulling me down the stairs and into the breakfast area. When we got in there it was dark. Then, suddenly, the lights turned on and our mums jumped up.

"Happy birthday!"

They sit us down at the table next to each other and place a cake in front of us with twelve candles in it. The cake said 'Happy Late Birthday Arthur and Alfred'. They lit the candles and sang happy birthday to us.

"Now blow out the candles."

On the count of three, both of us blew our candles out. Alfred then wrapped his arm around my shoulders and smiles. The next thing I know there is a bright flash. When it goes away I see Miss April's smiling face and a camera.

"This one is definitely a keeper. Now, time to eat cake."

"Yeah!"

Once the cake is sliced Alfred digs in while I take my time eating it since sweets aren't my favorite thing. As I eat, I could hear a little bit of whispering from behind me.

"Happy birthday big brother."

I feel a small pair of arms wrap around my leg, but when I look down there is nothing there. It's nothing I guess.

A/N: Over the next few chapters I will just show you what happens every few years or so in their friendship up until they are 14. Then there will only be one more yearly skip. This will also be a one chapter a day, one chapter every two days thing.