AN: So many different reviewers have asked me about an update for this. And I'd like to thank you for your patience and encouragement. Not a single one of you has been demanding or mean about the lack of updates and that good-natured attitude that has kept the idea of finishing this in the back of my mind after all of these years. Because I know this story is loved by those who understand that my time has to be spent in all manner of places and not always on my writing. So this chapter is dedicated to all of you who were kind in your reviews and encouraged updates even when all hope for one seemed gone. For anyone who is just joining us, please note that the last update was January 30, 2014. Please manage your expectations for an update with that time frame in mind.

Chapter 15:

Reunion

Behind the counter was a dark haired woman with severe eye makeup, a blue collared blouse and a clipboard with all of his son's information on it. Alfred was out of surgery. So no, he didn't want to waste another moment out here with this nurse instead of by his son's side.

"Only one visitor at a time," she repeated firmly.

The two men glanced at each other.

"But we're his parents," Francis said with a charming smile, "surely that does not apply to us?"

The nurse just stared at them across the counter. With crossed arms Arthur gave a low groan. She was a traditional type of person, the Adam-and-Eve not Adam-and-Steve bullshit. He and Francis shared a glance. Against Francis side, Matthew was a line of red and gold. Francis sighed and shook his head deciding not to push it.

"I'll go first," Arthur replied as he turned back to the desk with a frown. Francis reached out and squeezed his arm.

The squeak of gurneys and shoes surrounded him. Arthur took several deep breaths and pushed the door open. Two doctors conversing strode by, but as he stared at the child in the middle of the bed, their conversation fell away from him like the falling quiet on a snowy winter's night. Alfred's skin was mottled pink and red under his bandages with abrasions pockmarking the rest. His arm and leg were cast in white plaster and he was staring out the window at the blazing sky.

"Oh Alfred," the words slipped from his lips unbidden.

A blonde head whipped around, "Dad?"

In three great strides, Arthur was across the room at his baby's side. Alfred pushed himself up and Arthur quickly moved to pull the teenager into his arms. One hand was clenched into Arthur's shirt while the rough cast pressed into both of their stomachs with such intensity Arthur was sure he'd be bruised. All too quickly Alfred pulled away. Blue eyes bored into his own before sweeping out to the rest of him. Arthur pressed a hand to Alfred's cheek trying to draw that electric gaze back to his own.

"I didn't think I'd see you again," the words tumbled off Alfred's lips. The boy's cheeks burned at the admission.

Arthur's heart broke. He pulled the child back into his arms. He wanted to say, "I will always find you" and "I'll always be here for you," but this trip had thrown all of those sentimental absolutes out the window so he settled for a soft, "me too."

And that was it. All of Alfred's frantic energy gave out and the boy crumbled in Arthur's arms. The battered teenager sobbed. He held his son fiercely and tried to keep his own tears silent.

After he'd calmed, Arthur couldn't keep the boy's attention from Francis for any longer.

"Where's Papa? Where's Mattie?" Alfred asked, "Are they coming in soon?"

Arthur nodded, "You can only have one visitor at a time right now. Do you want me to send Papa in?"

Alfred froze. He's eyes turned to the door before coming back to Arthur's and Arthur sensed his hesitation.

"How about I stay for a little while longer first?"

"Yeah," Alfred sighed, "that sounds good."

And like he had since he came into Arthur's life, Alfred began to speak ridiculous nonsense about everything and anything that crossed his mind. But for the first time, Arthur noticed something… tense about the inane chatter. He couldn't quite put a finger on it so he let Alfred speak about everything from the actual sugar in Mexican coca-cola to how footsteps could be used as an electric power source to light up the underground. When the clock's hour hand had gone a full circle around the clock he nudged Alfred.

"I'm going to let Papa come in. I know he'd really like to see you."

A thumb crept up near Alfred's mouth before the teen noticed and he snuck the hand under his thigh.

"Yeah okay! Bring 'em in!" He chirped.

So Arthur did. And Francis went in with a dramatic whirlwind that Arthur could hear from where he waited in the hallway.

"I bet Papa's kissing Alfred a lot," Matthew piped up suddenly, staring towards his brother's room.

Arthur smiled at the boy, "And I bet Alfred's pretending not to like it."

Matthew shrugged, "Papa's beard is scratchy," he replied with a small smirk. And oh was Arthur glad to see it. He tugged the boy down the hallway.

"Let go get a cuppa while we wait for them, hmm?"

Matthew agreed and they managed to find the cafeteria without asking for directions. And if the cashier greeted Matthew by name then it was just because he was such a friendly child and not because he and Francis had just performed the same anxious ritual.

Francis and Arthur switched back several times throughout the day. When they offered to let Matthew go in to see Alfred the boy only accepted once and then not again. He wouldn't say why and they didn't push. As the day was getting on it occurred to Arthur that Alfred would have to stay the night… and when the doctors suggestion that he, Francis and Matthew, "retire to their hotel room for the evening" Arthur laughed and refused to leave. Because even if the oaf couldn't see it Arthur could feel Alfred go rigid at the suggestion and after that it would have taken God himself to get between him and his boy.

After proper visiting hours were over and the sun had set a new group of nurses came in. Perhaps they were more compassionate or maybe they didn't want to deal with their family all night long, but Matthew and Francis were both allowed in. Matthew climbed onto the foot of the bed and sat with Alfred's broken leg in his lap. Arthur nearly bit through his lip to keep from breaking into tears all over again. Francis pulled a chair up to the other side of the bed and gripped Alfred's hand. Several times during their reunion nurses came in to change out the IV drips and take vital information, but only once did another person attempt to get the family to leave Alfred's side.

It was an agent from Interpol. He smiled and apologized, but wouldn't budge. Francis stood and Alfred reached for him with a panic that Arthur had never seen the teenager display before. Quickly the Frenchmen reassured the boy but Arthur wouldn't trouble Alfred on the first day back together anymore than he had to. So he pressed a kiss to the boy's head and let Francis soothe him as he stepped out in to the hallway.

The brunette wanted witness statements from the boy's and for them to sit down with sketch artists. Arthur smiled with too many teeth and replied when they returned home.

"They won't be allowed to leave Mexico until they do."

Arthur turned, lashed out in rage; however, the punch to the wall did nothing but split his knuckles.

"Are you serious?"

The agent assured him it would only take forty-five minutes, an hour maximum. But that wasn't the point. That didn't matter.

His heart ached more than his fist when he walked back into the room. Matthew shook his head, lip clenched between his teeth. The older boy's "no," and belated, "thank you," was forced out. Alfred smiled and jabbered on about how cool it would be to have someone draw a person from his memory, but his smile was jagged and his words held no substance. Arthur felt like he was sinking. He wanted things to go back to how they were meant to be. He did not want to have to convince his children to give witness statements about their kidnapping. He didn't want Matthew to fall silent again. He didn't want Alfred to think every time he left that he wouldn't come back. He was drowning and they'd just found each other again.

"Boys," Francis smiled, "your Dad and I need a few minutes."

Two sets of eyes widened, but Francis smiled as if he hadn't noticed.

"We'll be right outside the door," a thumbnail made it's way into Alfred's mouth, "and be back in just a few moments."

Matthew's breath trembled and he glanced around the hospital room. Eyes looking for hidden attackers and escape routes. A fire roared in Arthur's chest. His heart was beating too fast and his skin was too tight around his bones.

"Do you want us to have a nurse stay in here with you?"

Two simultaneous no's sprung up from the children. A thousand more question erupted in Arthur's mind.

"Oui, d'accord," and the rest of his words faded out. He was sure that the other man was still speaking but there was a buzzing in his ears and a pounding in his chest. The next thing he was aware of was a warm chest, strong hands and the smell of lavender. Blond hairs tickled his neck. He blinked and pulled out of the embrace, but Francis didn't let him move too far away.

"You left us for a bit mon cœur," Francis murmured.

Arthur was at a loss himself, "I'm sorry I…" he struggled to explain, "I don't know."

They were standing in front of Alfred's door with nurses and doctors watching them from the corners of their eyes. The noise of the hospital bubbled around him and the scent of antiseptic stung his nose.

"It's hard," Francis nodded at the door, "not just for them."

Arthur swallowed dry, "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm fine."

Francis quirked an eyebrow at him and Arthur gave him a watery smile.

"You haven't been able to actually lie to me in years," Francis replied with a tender look.

Arthur snorted, "that's what you think."

Francis tilted his head back and gave a bark of a laugh.

"Let's just get out of this country in one piece, all right?"

Arthur nodded with a quick glance, "Are you sure you're-"

"Let's not have you hurting yourself now mon rosbif. I don't know what I'd do without your magnificent eyebrows to shock me awake each morning."

Arthur squawked and stormed back into the room making sure not to hold the door for Francis. The Frenchmen fumbled with the door and cursed at Arthur's back. Smiling Arthur perched himself down on the edge of his bed and laughed as Matthew tickled Alfred's bare toes. There was a sharp tug on the hair at the back of his neck before a warm hand rubbed the spot. Arthur coiled an arm around his husband's waist and sat with his family.

AN: I'm not promising consistent updates, but I do plan on finishing this. Eventually. And once I do that I'd like to go back and edited because I know there are some points that need to be clarified and other things I'd like to reify.