So many days and nights had passed. Countless rounds as the watchman for Ludwig. Feliciano had somehow found a way of life with the family. Each and every day he attempted to do little things.

Naturally he found ways to mess up those little things and make more work for everyone, but the effort was appreciated. Ludwig had found the constant nuisance to somehow drive him forward. He had more of a goal each day than simply watching the home at night and learning of the world during the light hours. Yet this night was different.

Ludwig had felt unwell since Feliciano had made him that pastry which, while smelling of fruit, simply happened to be a literal mud pie. The Italian simply hadn't thought to tell the Deutschman that the pie, like so many cakes, was a lie.

So the fae had gone to be with the intention of sleeping an entire night. No hourly calls. No marching. And no carrying Feliciano to bed. Yet, after sleeping for some time, he felt small hands creeping on his shoulder.

"Luuuudy. Ludy, wake up please!" The voice was odd. It had a lilt of concern Ludwig wasn't accustomed to hearing.

With reluctance he sat up, blearily blinking at the other as he gathered himself.

"Yes yes, what is it?"

"I think there's someone in the house."

Ludwig gave a great sigh and dressed. It wasn't uncommon for the brunette to be alarmed like this. One round through the home would have him calm in no time. Yet, as the fae left their nest, he heard a rustling in the kitchen. The distinct crunching of glass under heavy boot struck his ears loudly. Elizaveta had once dropped a glass, their obnoxious neighbor, Gilbert, had stomped all over it before it could be cleaned. The sound was too similar to be separate.

Ludwig wasn't sure what he'd do. He was small, after all, and as such not very intimidating. Down the hall he heard the muffled sighs of the couple. Trying for a baby again? Was now really the time?

Well, perhaps it had been before all of this. Now what did he do? Fluttering by the doorframe he saw the long shadows on the floor. These men looked like rogues he had seen in his own species. Those unwelcome beasts of a darker nature intent on ruining all good things for their own gain. They were running their hands through drawers, lifting up fruits for some reason, and pilfering. For what? What goods could be stored in the kitchen?

They were coming towards the door. They'd go to the humans for whatever they wanted if he didn't stop them.

"Feliciano, go to the Master and disturb him!" If there were ever a task suited for the Italian it would be something involving disruption.

Ludwig didn't wait to see if the boy went. He charged forward, wings beating hard, and grabbed at loose hair from under the cap. The fiend took a swipe at him, panicking over the thought of a bug in his hair. A bug? Him, a fae, a bug? That was unacceptable! He was a proud soldier fae, a protector, and was far greater than the common bug!

Yet to these two oafs he was nothing more than a bothersome beetle. Ludwig flew up to the pans above the island and pushed with all his might. One fell, shifting the weight, and with enough of a charge against another pan he offset the balance. All the pans of one side fell. Then the others followed. He made enough clatter to alarm all present in the home. Several times he dove and charged, nails and teeth meeting human skin as he defended his people. During one dive though a man had reacted. He grabbed a pan from the counter and swung. Ludwig felt the rush of air, shockingly cold to him, before the copper sent him flying. The stainless steel of the sink made him ache as he landed, body too sore, and he couldn't think. Everything was blurred and even more hurt. They were talking. What were they saying? Why couldn't he focus?

Water. His hands and legs were wet. The sink was filling with water. He tried to flap his wings. Nothing happened. Again he tried, but he was just getting more tired. No, they were going to leave the room. No, no. He wasn't going to let them! They weren't going to stop Roderich's smiles or Elizaveta's stories. He wouldn't let them!

The men were shouting at the door frame. The front door was open and several cats were bombarding them. Hissing, screaming, clawing and biting. The four-legged beasts tore at the would-be thieves as though they were rodents.

"Ludy!" The brunette hovered over the sink, looking down at the blonde with concern. Already the water was up to his throat where he lay against the wall.

"Feliciano. Your damned cats… They won't want them in the h-" His voice broke from the throbbing pain made worse by the water.

"Hold on Ludy. I'll save you!"

I'm as good as dead now, aren't I? All this time I could have spent with my humans. All the years I would spend watching them age. Watching them grow. Gone. Yet, I know at least they'll be fine now. They won't be lonely.

Feliciano was trying to turn the faucet off. He strained and groaned, trying to force the handle over. It wasn't working. Feliciano began to cry, shaking his head. He couldn't do it. He simply couldn't.

No. That wasn't good enough. Feliciano stood up from where he had collapsed by the handle. Down to Ludwig he flew, landing in the water and wrapping his arms around the broad torso.

"Feliciano? Stop it you idiot!" Ludwig didn't want him to drown too, the damned idiot!

"No! I won't let you! I won't I won't! We're family now! I'm never gonna let you go anywhere!"

He pulled and pulled, his wings beating hard just above the water. Slowly they began to lift, the fae straining, and Ludwig was able to breathe more easily. The waterline was lower on him. Down to the clavicle now. Lower and lower the line went, despite the rising water, but little Feliciano strained more and more to lift them. The thieves had run out the kitchen door, the cats slipping about to check the area, and there was a sudden bout of noise in the kitchen. Hands turned the faucet off as another set dove to catch the faes.

The worried faces of the humans loomed over the two fae as Feliciano held tight to Ludwig.

"Feliciano, you need to let him go. Come, help me get a new nest ready. We have to lay doctor, okay?" Elizaveta crooned gently to the brunette, her body modestly hidden in a green robe.

Roderich held his fae and went to the sitting room, finding an old rocking chair. The clothes were gently removed and Roderich drew from his shirt pocket his handkerchief. This he wrapped about the fae to keep him warm and settled him gently into his pocket. Heat would help him. From there they would nurse him. No doubt in time the blonde would be well.

"Hört, ihr Leut, und laßt euch sagen: unsre Glock hat Zehn geschlagen-" The man rocked back and forth I time to the slow ticking of the chiming clock against the wall. Midnight. Roderich sang gently, the humming in his chest soothing to the fae as he lay his head against Roderich's chest.

"Stay awake, Ludwig. Just for a little worry. Don't fret, my dear. Tonight I shall be the watchman. You shall be my quiet village." Roderich spoke gently, looking down to his pocket to smile at the blonde. Slowly he rose his hand and brushed the cheek with a single finger, Ludwig too weak to respond.

The entire night Roderich stayed in the chair, rocking back and forth, singing at every hour. Feliciano strained to stay awake, but both he and Elizaveta were driven to bed when they had finished doctoring the fae. Dawn broke the sky with vivid colours and still Roderich rocked in his chair, legs sore and aching as he tried to mimic the sound of creaking trees with the rocking, wanting Ludwig to sleep better with the reminder of home.

The fae woke around his usual time, Roderich watching him with relief evident in his eyes. Ludwig stirred in the warmth of the pocket despite Elizaveta insisting on an actual bed for him. Roderich had kept Ludwig with him all the night and now the fae, though weary, felt well enough to march on.

"Breakfast should be ready shortly, my pet. Rest a while more. I'll feed you here."

"Your back… You should lay down." Roderich wasn't accustomed to work or awkward postures for long hours. Yet all the night he had been like this.

"Shh. You've played watchman since we brought you home. I can afford a little time tending to my family." His smile was soft and kind, embarrassing Ludwig.

"Luuuudy!" Feliciano burst into the room, fluttering his wings hard as he hovered before the pocket.

"Feliciano… Those cats. They were the ones you had been playing with." Ludwig spoke slowly, still unsure about the events from the night before.

"That's right! They're my new friends! Each one has a different personality though. Some of them are quite bossy, but I still like them!" The boy smiled brightly as he always did. A sight more comforting to the blonde than he imagined it could ever be.

"Elizaveta has tidied up the home already. Police were called and a warning was issued. Feliciano drew their faces for us too. We were able to send out a description warning people about the burglars." Roderich looked to his wife as she stepped into the room, his heart thumping loudly. Ludwig smiled as he heard the pounding in the man's chest. It was a sweet thing.

"Good morning, Ludwig." She came to the chair, Feliciano nestling on her shoulder. "Our little heroes. We'll have to think of something special to do for you."

Heroes? Us? "But I didn't do anything. It was Felici-" Ludwig wrinkled his brow as he spoke in his confusion.

"You fought for us dear. That's more than enough. Because of you two working together we're safe." Elizaveta laced her fingers together as she spoke softly.

Ludwig fell quiet. When Feliciano had first arrived he had been nothing but a bother. Through him Ludwig had wondered why he stayed here. He had longed for home. Yet, now, after all they had been through he had come to realize that this was home. Perhaps the fae wasn't useless. They could settle down together and tend to these humans until they were no longer needed. Ludwig hoped the day wouldn't come, but should it ever he'd be ready.

Yes, he'd be ready with his little Feliciano, the pest and the saint. Life was more interesting now. And life had found its place for the fae.

Author's note: Hey guys! My God it has been a Hell of a long time since the last chapter had been updated. Things are rapidly changing here and, for the meantime, it seems good. This story was fun in its own way, though I may have to take another stab at writing these two. They're unfamiliar characters in my stories, so development is definitely in order.

Anyway. Thanks for following along. I hope it was fun for all of you to tag along to the end. After this story I don't know what I'll write, but I hope to see you then too. Thanks guys!