Author's note: Sooo...this idea came to me suddenly about a couple months ago and I started writing some of the chapters. It will be sad and angsty and might make you go "wtf". Things will be revealed later on (hopefully). I need to figure out how exactly I want to write this particular story. This is AU, btw.

"Dad!"

"Daddy!"

Arthur turned over in bed, hearing the voices down the hall. He smiled and sat up, swinging his legs around the bed and quietly padding across the floor so as not to wake up his husband.

"Dad!"

The voices got louder. He wandered down the hallway, towards a dark room, and saw two nearly identical boys sitting up on the bed. "I'm here," he whispered, sitting down on their bed. "Did you boys have a nightmare again?"

"It's hot, Daddy," Matthew, the one with the longer hair, mumbled. He clutched his stuffed bear close to his chest.

"Stay with us, Dad," the other, Alfred, pleaded.

Arthur's smile widened adoringly, patting them both on the head. "All right then. Promise not to tell Papa."

"We promise!" they said in unison, giggling.

Just as Arthur was preparing to curl up with them on the bed, there were footsteps and a gasp from the doorway. Arthur looked up and saw his husband staring down at him with wide, fearful eyes.

"Arthur…?" Francis said slowly. "What are you doing?"

"The boys were scared again, Francis," he replied.

"The…boys…"

Francis tensed up as he walked into the room, as though terrified.

"Why does Papa look scared?" Alfred asked.

"I haven't a clue," Arthur responded.

"What?" Francis looked at him oddly.

"Alfred was wondering why you looked so scared."

Francis bit his lip worriedly. "…Arthur."

"Yes?"

"C-Come out of that room."

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "No. The boys want me to stay."

Francis looked desperate. "Arthur, please."

Looking back at his scared boys on the bed, Arthur felt uncertain. "Why can't I stay with them? Just this once?"

"T-The boys will be fine…just come with me." Arthur eventually sighed and nodded, standing up and kissing Alfred and Matthew's foreheads. He missed the disturbed expression on Francis' face. As soon as they were in the hall, Francis grabbed Arthur by both his shoulders. "Are you all right, Arthur?" he asked softly.

"Of course I am," he said, eyes narrowing. "Why did you have to pull me into the hall to ask me that?"

"You're scaring me," Francis said quickly.

Arthur ignored him and turned to go back into the room. "Can I stay with them now?"

Francis looked like he was in physical pain but nodded his head in defeat. He hurried to get his cell phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Antonio," he breathed into the speaker. "H-He's doing it again. He's talking like they're still a-alive..." He choked out a sob. "What do I do, Tonio, what do I do…?"

Confused? Intrigued? Worried for Arthur's mental health? Let me know. c: