AN: Well, here's chapter four. The return of Schultz! XD FEAR THE POWER! Um…anyway…yeah, this one is the beginning of the USUK part. So, if I get courageous enough, the rating may go up. But I've never written anything like that so I'd need a lot of help…please review!

Alfred stared down at Arthur for a moment and had just opened his mouth to respond when a loud groan coming from the vicinity of the door interrupted him. Jason held his head and sat up, staring at the two with a grimace. "You…" Jason was about to finish his sentence when the door swung open again, hitting him dead-on in the face and knocking him out. Arthur stared with wide eyes at the boy standing in the now open doorway.

Now somewhat clean brown hair was plastered to the pale skin on the boy's face with blood, and a cut on the forehead was forcing one hazel eye to stay closed. "Sch-Schultz!" Arthur scrambled off the bed and to the doorway, where he took in all the bloody cuts and bruises covering the younger teen's body. "Bloody hell…Schultz…what happened to you?" His voice was nothing but a shocked whisper as he fought to keep tears back. It was his fault and he knew it.

"Different pirates…" Schultz looked away with shame. "Said they was lookin' for ya…Beat me up 'til I finally told them…" His eyes filled with tears. "Sorry, Captain. I didn't wanna but they just…it hurt…" And then he was crying. Shock filled his eyes when Arthur pulled him into a tight embrace.

"Settle down now, Schultz." Alfred nearly gasped at how Arthur changed within a moment from bawling his eyes out and acting like a little kid, to acting like a father or older brother. Instead he stared with impressed shock as Arthur started muttering to the boy with words Alfred couldn't make out. 'God…he's amazing…' Alfred shook his head a moment and then went back in his memory to how Arthur had acted after those blurted words. 'He meant them…' With that thought, Alfred got of the bed, kicking the unconscious form of Jason, and walked up behind Arthur, getting a strange look that was partially fear from Schultz. "Ah, Alfred. Um…may I…ask something of you?"

Heart jumping, Alfred stared down into Arthur's emerald green eyes. "Yeah, of course, Artie."

"Don't call me Artie. This is Schultz. He was my first mate back on my ship. He's injured and has no place to go…would you please…keep him on the ship? For me?" The way Arthur gazed up at him with a slightly flushed face and sparkling eyes almost made Alfred melt. He knew that he had a soft spot for this boy since they had met, but this was…different. "Um…Alfred?"

With a start, Alfred realized that he hadn't answered and that now both Arthur and Schultz were staring up at him with anxious expressions. "Y-Yeah. I'd never kick someone of the ship unless they do something really horrible. Especially not a kid." Alfred couldn't help but grin at Schultz, but not missing the bright smile on Arthur's face. "You can stay."

Walking out, he couldn't help but hear what happened next. After the joyous moment, Schultz turned to Arthur. "Ya still have the watch?" Alfred stopped behind a corner, close enough to hear the conversation. 'Watch…? What watch?'

"Yes."

"Does he know?"

"Of course not, Schultz…How on earth could I tell him that I have this? He'd know instantly what had happened…"

"It was an accident though! It's not like ya meant to kill Matt!"

"That doesn't change the fact that I killed his twin brother…"

Alfred stopped.

Matt…was killed by…Arthur? His precious twin brother had been killed by Arthur? But Matthew had died years ago! Back when they were around 13. Back when Arthur had been like a younger brother to them. Arthur had been crying worse than anyone else at Matt's funeral.

But it was his fault?

Alfred refused to believe it.

But the watch…when Matthew had been found dead, the only thing missing was the gold pocket watch given to him by their grandfather on his deathbed. Alfred felt his stomach twisting itself in knots as he placed his hand against the wall behind him for balance as it finally sunk in.

Arthur had killed Matthew.

It seems like in the conversation; Arthur had suddenly tried to walk away. "Don't go, Arthur! We aren't done talking!" For some reason, when Alfred heard the familiarity in Schultz's voice, he winced in anger. Or rather, jealousy, he decided later. "Just tell him! It'll be a lot better! Besides, it was an accident, wasn't it?"

"Of course! I'd never want to hurt Matt!" Alfred could hear Arthur's voice cracking, indicating tears. "Never!"

"Ya know, Arthur, it almost sounds as if ya loved this Matt guy. Was there a secret relationship ya never told me about?" The silence after that question seemed to physically hurt Alfred. He didn't realize that the silence was because of the incredulous look Arthur was sending Schultz's way. "No?"

"No. Not at all."

A quiet sigh of relief made its way through Alfred's lips. "Well…ya should still tell Mr. Jones about this." He heard footsteps as Schultz walked away. Alfred was about to walk back to his cabin when he jumped at the sound of Arthur sobbing. As much against his bad judgment as it was, Alfred ran around the corner and straight to where Arthur was sitting outside the doorway to Jason's cabin.

Without hesitation, he picked Arthur up bridal style and started walking back to their cabin. "So…Arthur…" He felt Arthur flinch at the use of his full name. "I happened to overhear that conversation. You…killed Mattie?"

Shaking, Arthur buried his face in Alfred's shirt. "It was an accident…I promise…he was teaching me how to use a pistol and…" Another loud sob. "I didn't mean to! Please believe me! I…I've never forgiven myself for that! And I have never used a gun again! Never!"

With a sigh, Alfred quietly calmed Arthur down. "It's okay. I believe you. After all," Alfred opened the door and laid Arthur down on the bed before finishing, "you are my little Artie."

Emerald eyes opened wide when Alfred leaned over and kissed Arthur on the lips. Feeling the younger teen struggle a bit, Alfred broke the kiss and smiled down at Arthur. "You're feisty, just like back then. You haven't really changed have you, Arthur? Except for your attitude…back then you were so…well, you're still cute and innocent and naïve, but back then, you weren't all piratey."

"Sh-Shut up, you bloody Git!" Arthur was blushing furiously as he pushed Alfred away, looking like a kid again as he lie on the bed, red-faced, with wide eyes. "It's not like…well…" He trailed off and looked toward one of the walls. "It's not like you haven't changed either! Because you haven't!"

"The coat from me, and the watch you stole from Mattie…you had a part of each of us, Artie. Did you take it for granted?" Arthur yelped in shock as Alfred stuck a hand in his pocket and pulled out the too familiar watch. "So it's true…"

"He asked me to take it! I didn't just steal it!" Alfred smirked at the defensive tone in Arthur's voice. "It's not like I just accidentally killed him and decided to take the watch! I-"

"You're a pirate, Arthur. Why should I believe that you didn't steal this?" Alfred smirked wider as he hung the watch over Arthur, who flushed even more. "I'll have to force you to tell me the truth, won't I, Artie?"

Smirking even wider, if that was possible, Alfred leaned back over Arthur, taking off his own grey tie as he grabbed Arthur's wrists, which he tied to the bedposts. He couldn't help but chuckle darkly at the smaller boy's yelp before tangling his large, gloved hand in pale blonde hair and yanking the boy's head back, revealing his smooth, creamy neck. "A-A-Alfred…please…st-stop!" The words got a response of another dark chuckle from the elder blonde. "Please…I…y-you're…like an older b-brother to me and…I just…wh-what would my mother think of you? Sh-she asked you t-to take c-care of me, r-right?"

The thought snapped Alfred back. Arthur's mother had in fact asked the dirty blonde to take care of her son. Arthur was only 5 at the time and was the cutest thing with his huge, emerald eyes. Alison Kirkland was the boy's mother. A beautiful blonde with eyes the color of spring and pale skin covered in soft freckles, angel kisses as she liked to call them to her four children, the youngest of which being Arthur. She had always been frail, and got ill not long after Arthur was born. She suddenly got a lot worse when Arthur was 5 years old. On her death bed, Alfred had promised Alison that he would always take care of and protect Arthur.

Alfred smiled sincerely down at Arthur. "She did. I'm sorry, Arthur." With that he stood up and walked out, forgetting that Arthur was still tied up.