Brothers

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~Francis' POV~
When we got home we both sat in silence for a while before Allistor decided to apologize.
"Franny...I'm sorry I shouldn't have...forced myself on you and...said all of that stuff...I guess I'm just...jealous..." I stared at the street for a moment before taking a deep breath. "I accept your apology...I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner..." I turned the car off and got out before going inside.
Merde my breath tastes like cigarettes.

~Alfred's POV~
Christina kissed me softly as we put the twins down for bed, "Alfred you know I love you with all my heart don't you?" I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. "What's this all about? Of course I know that Christie, what's wrong?"
"Nothing...I just wanted to make sure you knew that"
I smiled and kissed her softly. The slamming of car doors in the driveway interrupted our kiss and the twins' sleep. We both let out an exhausted sigh and got the twins out of their cribs before going down stairs to greet my uncle.
"Uncle Scottie!" Matthew practically skipped over to Allistor and grabbed hold of his arm with a wide grin. "I didn't know you were coming it's been forever!" Allistor chuckled and ruffled his hair, "aye it has laddie! My how you've grown! And who's this handsome lad?" Albie scratched his head sheepishly and held his hand out to Allistor for a hand shake.
"Albie Sir...Matthew's boyfriend...it's an honor to meet you Mr. Scotland"
"Ah! An Irishmen! Never a dull moment with one of you lads around. Call me Allistor" Allistor shook his hand firmly before laying his eyes on me and Christina. "Well I'll be...Alfred F. Jones in the flesh...it's been too long Lad...and who's this lovely lass? Certainly she isn't waisting her time on you right?" I rolled my eyes with a grin and walked over to him with Christina. "This is my girlfriend Christina...she means the world to me and...well she's also the mother of my son and daughter"
Allistor blinked and gazed at the twins in awe.
"Blow me down...spittin image of'ye...may I?" I looked at Christina and she smiled at me before we allowed Allistor to hold the twins.
"Precious miracles...and a handful I bet"
"Yeah..." I chuckled and glanced over at Francis who was still standing by the door, he had a sour expression on his face and he didn't seem to want to be here. Something must have happened.
"Allistor." Arthur appeared suddenly from his study and removed his reading glasses. "Artie." Allistor and Arthur stared at each other for what seemed like hours and for a moment I thought I would have to intervene. "...Allistor can I talk to you alone? I have a lot to say to you" Allistor sighed and took out a cigarette twirling it in his fingers. "Aye. I suppose" Allistor glanced at Francis as he walked into Arthur's study where the two proceeded to talk alone.
Matthew and Ailbe stood there awkwardly whilst a cloud of doom hung around the rest of us.
"So um...what...just happened?" Matthew whispered.
"It's none of our business...Let's just leave them be for a while" Francis stepped out into the front yard and Christina took Joaquin from me.
"Go talk to your Father...somethings wrong"
"Yeah...your telling me..." I scratched my head and followed Francis as Christina, Matt, and Ailbe made their way to the living room.
"Pops?..." I closed the door behind me and sat next to him. Francis took a deep breath and fumbled a pack of cigarettes in his hands, "we kissed"
I stared at him stunned not sure what to say.
"Well...WE didn't kiss...he kissed me...and I had to break it to him the hard way..." Francis took a cigarette out and placed it in his mouth without lighting it. "Now I taste like smoke and all I can think about is a cigarette...damn cancer sticks"
"...not like they'll affect you...but please don't light that I don't want the kids to get sick" I sat next to him and took a cigarette from him copying him by placing it unlit in my mouth. "So...what are you gonna tell dad?" Francis sighed and bit into the cig.
"I don't know...I don't want to lie to him...but I don't want to tell him either...ugh but I need to" Francis ran his fingers through his hair. "I didn't do anything wrong but I feel like I've just cheated on him!"
"W-why do you feel like that??"
"I don't- merde because I didn't kick him away immediately...I think somewhere deep down I liked it...damn it."
"...well I...well it's a kiss- and a kiss from someone you liked up until not too long ago...as long as you don't have feelings for him anymore and you didn't kiss him back I don't think you did anything wrong...you didn't kiss back did you?"
"No! Of course not...I was frozen with shock...I thought maybe he'd flirt with me but...I never thought he'd..." Francis stopped and touched his lips. "...you should tell dad...that will make you feel better...even if you think it won't it will..."
"......" Francis didn't say anything, he just stared at the ground and chewed on his cigarette.
I ruffled my hair and took the cigarette out of my mouth, "I promise it'll be okay...just wait until tonight when everyone goes to bed" I gave him a quick hug and went back inside to let him be for a while. I looked down at the cigarette in my hand and twirled it in my fingers. I don't understand why these things are so damn addictive, their disgusting. I sighed and tossed it in the trash and walked into the living room.

~Arthur's POV~
I poured Allistor a glass of whiskey and handed it to him before sitting down in my chair.
"I thought you didn't keep alcohol in the house anymore." Allistor gave me a sly grin and took a sip.
"I keep a bottle for guests only. Don't patronize me."
"Damn I've missed your pissy attitude little brother"
I frowned and crossed my legs.
"Believe it or not...I've missed you too...all of you..."
Allistor looked at me with a surprised look before frowning and staring at his glass.
"...so why'd you call me here?...Francis wasn't very helpful at explaining it"
"...your here to help me save Christina..."
Allistor tapped his foot against the floor and finished off his glass before retrieving the bottle.
"You want me to make her immortal."
"No...I can do that myself. I want you to heal her..."
Allistor sighed and took a swig.
"You know I can't do that...she's human...it's bad enough she even knows we're countries. We're better off if she dies along with our secret honestly I can't believe you allowed Alfred to have children with her"
I grit my teeth and dug my fingers into my arm rest.
"Do you know why I even have the ability to speak to you right now? To be able to look you in the eye?
Do you understand why I have my entire family here in my home when I haven't seen any of them separately in over 30- maybe 40 years?"
Allistor waited for me to give the answer.
"It's because of Christina. She was the one who managed to pull Alfred out of his depression completely. She was the one that brought my family together but the birth of my first- and only grand children. She's the reason I was able to make things right with Francis and fix our relationship for the better. I owe her. I would sell my soul if I had to if it meant I could save her life."
Allistor stared at me for a moment and took out a cigarette. "I didn't know you could care for a human like this" I frowned and bit my nail.
"...tell me...why are she and Alfie not married yet? Or at least engaged?"
"...I...I don't know...they had a lot to deal with when Christina was pregnant...and now they have to take care of the twins so...I think Alfred plans on proposing soon..."
"...do you really think she's worth saving?"
"...yes...she's pure good...there's not a single bad thing about her...she deserves happiness..."
Allistor sighed and lit his cigarette.
"Fine. I'll heal her. But you owe me...you owe me big." I smiled softly and I felt tears well up in my eyes. "Yes! Oh lord I'll give you anything you want!"
Allistor paused and chuckled before standing up and walking towards the door.
"You can't give me what I want..." Allistor set the bottle down before leaving my study and me absolutely dumbfounded.
What the hell did that mean?

~Francis' POV~
That night as I was getting ready for bed, Arthur walked into the bedroom with a cigarette in his hand. "Francis why is there a cigarette in the bin?"
I looked up and dabbed my face with a wash cloth; damn it must be Alfred's. "I don't know did you ask Allistor?" Arthur huffed and crossed his arms.
"These are French cigarettes Francis. You didn't even smoke it...but you thought about it...what's wrong? What's bothering you?" Arthur stood beside me in the bathroom and set the cigarette on the counter. I stared at it and then at Arthur not able to form any words, I opened my mouth but nothing came out as tears rushed down my cheeks and dropped onto the floor. "! Francis- I'm sorry- what's wrong what happened my love??" Arthur held my face and wiped my tears away before kissing me gently. I didn't kiss back.
Arthur pulled away from me and stared at me.
"Francis?..." He let go of my face.
I wiped my eyes and pinched myself in order to pull myself together but it was no use, I'm an absolute mess...I can't stop the tears.
"I-I'm sorry Arthur- I didn't think...I didn't know..."
Arthur frowned and grew a bit distant from me.
"What happened Francis...."
I sniffled and wiped my eyes again.
"At the airport I- he- I didn't even get a chance to say anything he just...kissed me...with no warning and..." I slapped myself to get my mind straight. Nothing pisses me off more then when I'm crying.
I feel so pathetic.
"He kissed me...and I was so stunned I didn't push him away immediately...I was so angry at him for what he said..." I buried my face in my hands and gripped onto my hair.
"...did...did you kiss him back?..."
"No...of course not..."
"....Francis look at me" Arthur kneeled down beside me and put his hand against mine moving it away from my face. I stared into his eyes and sniffled, "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have gone alone..." Arthur kissed me softly on the lips before kissing me once more on the forehead. "Calm down...You have nothing to apologize for..." I looked up at him again. "But-"
"Don't. This isn't your fault it's Allistors for being such a twat...don't worry...everything's okay..."
"Oh Arthur..." I felt my heart flutter as I hugged him tightly and buried my face in his shoulder.
"I love you so much" Arthur smiled a tiny bit and hugged me back. "I love you too...mon amour.."

I'm sorry...~AmericaWhere stories live. Discover now