The sun seemed to be shining brightly in the sky, jumping behind the clouds as they gently flew by, hiding from the birds bellow as they soared through the unusually happy British sky, singing songs filled with joy and love. On the ground bellow six men slowly began making their way back towards the woods, two long haired blondes skipping in front of the small group singing songs from their childhoods, songs which brought back memories that could bring a smile to any of the men's faces. Humming along in the background both Alba and Shawn held up the melodies for their blonde brother and nephew, not noticing a certain father and son lurking in the back being extremely quiet, neither Arthur or Keith felt like being very musical at the moment both held questions within their minds about what the other might be thinking at this moment in time.

"So erm, Keith did you bring your guitar with you?" Arthur asked quietly over his shoulder to his brunet son, hoping to get the boy to talk to him. His Australian son had even muttered a word to either him, his brothers or Matthew, it was beginning to worry him. Keith only shook his head left to right signalling that he hadn't brought his instrument. sighing for what felt like the hundredth time that morning Arthur rushed forward towards Alba, taking his finger and writing on his elder brothers' back 'Sticking back with Keith, will catch up soon' before stepping back, waiting for Scotland to give him the signal. In a quick flick of his wrist Alba gave his consent for Arthur's action as he continued to walk with the rest of the group.

That was all Arthur needed before he fell back into step with his moody Australian son, grabbing his arm and turning sharply away from the path that the others were walking along, a quick glance was shared between the youngest and eldest Kirkland brothers as they want their separate ways with their own groups, both smirking slightly at how things were turning out. Once Arthur was sure that they were far enough away from the group, away from unwanted ears. It wasn't that he didn't trust his brothers and Matthew, but there were something's that should be kept secret from others plus in his opinion Cymru had a tendency to become too emotional too quickly, it was ok in some situations but not ones like this.

"Care to tell me why you haven't spoken to anyone since this morning Keith?" Arthur questioned, his voice level yet emotional at the same time, reassuring his son that it was ok to speak his mind, England had always encourage his children to do so otherwise they may have been pushed around by others when they were older, strongly believing that if they didn't feel that they could speak their mind around him he wasn't a good parent to his children.

"I saw..." Was all Keith muttered as he let his gaze drop to the ground, Arthur's confusion rose at that simple statement, stepping forward slightly Arthur hooked his hand under his son's chin, forcing him to look him in the eyes before asking a question he half way dreaded hearing the answer to.

"what?, you saw what son?"

"the scares... on your wrist mum" unshed tears began to gather in Keith's dark green eyes, the pain and worry which he had been hiding shining clear as day as he gazed into Arthur's own, the blonde mans guilt and own pain flashing slightly before being hidden again behind his 'mask'

"you... weren't meant to see them... ever I'm-"

"DON'T! just don't.. don't apologize again" the Australians voice erupted, interrupting his 'mother' whilst his hands shot up towards his own eyes, shielding them from his ex-carers gaze as he continued "I have heard thoughs words enough times this morning from you! The fact is that I did see them and they are still there! THEY DON'T BELONG THERE god damn it... they don't belong there mummy" leaping forward Arthur encased his weeping son in his arms, forcing his head into his chest as he stroked the silky brown hushing him, despite the fact that Keith kept pushing him back with whatever strength he could muster up in his emotional state Arthur kept his grip on his son continuing the calming motion. ' I guess I better explain myself to him'

" look, baby please just listen to what I have to say before you decide what you think of me ok?" feeling his son's breath hitch slightly but he still nodded his head against his 'mothers' chest, taking it as the go ahead Arthur began his explanation, something he hadn't even given his brothers yet.

"These, scares on my wrist, they each represent a thought, a feeling I have felt over the past few years... It's, difficult to deal with the thoughts, the doubts, the pain of feeling... Alone I guess is the best way to put it... I felt like I was alone, like I was a burden to all that knew me, this was before your brother Alfred left me but I guess it just got worse from then on" taking a shaky breath Arthur continued, stroking his sobbing son's hair as he spoke " I wanted to stop the thoughts, to just stop feeling , so I began drinking, a lot, it helped me become numb... each time I drank I would wake up with a new scare, I continued this for about 7 years and 4 months, in that time I gained 23 scares, some faded most didn't, I decided that I wanted to stop this slope I was on, I refuse to become an alcoholic for something as silly as my own weakness, though I guess that is exactly what I was at the time, so I started drinking tea instead of gin and writing journals instead of cutting... it helped, helps with the thoughts but not the feelings..."

"mummy..." Keith whimpered, shifting his head slightly so that he could look up at his mum, pushing his head up slightly to kiss his mother on the cheek, a sign of both affection and encouragement shared between the Kirkland family members, chuckling slightly Arthur took a deep breath, squeezing his son a bit before concluding his explanation, giving his son an overall on why he did it.

"son, baby... I harmed myself to block the thoughts and other feelings from my mind.. to force myself to become numb against the world I guess, I don't want to admit it but I gave up" Pausing Arthur quickly shot a smile, not a fake one a real, honest joy filled smile that he saved only for his family before finally saying "But I am getting better, yeah, a lot better than before... I can smile now, laugh now, actually enjoy myself with the ones I love around me... you five men, my two boys and three brothers, you are all my heroes!"

"but we could have saved you earlier! you just had to call us, Matthew, Zack and I would have all come to yours for as long as you needed not to mention Leon, heck even Chelles!" Keith tried to reason with his ex-carer, trying to give any excuse that he wasn't a hero, he couldn't be that was Alfred's job... was.

"oh I know you would, I am sure you boys would have all come round, but at the time I refused to even call my brothers to ask them for help, and stop trying to make excuses mister, I can see what you are doing, you boys all saved me, you are the heroes of this story! you, your brothers, sister and my own brothers, you all saved me without you lot I don't think I could have taken it much longer"

instead of speaking this time, all Keith could do was hug his 'mother' with as much force as he could, glad his ex-carer could tell him his secrets, thankful that he got there in time but sad at the same time at how, broken the men was yet how strongly he stood against it all... it made the Australian proud to be this man's son.

"come on baby, we have to start heading towards the rest of the group, before Cymru and Matthew come searching for us" winking towards Keith, Arthur took his son's hand and began leading him slowly towards the camp, hoping that his two blondes wouldn't be to angry at him.