They head downstairs and out after a brief debate on who would wear the one pair of shoes Matt had brought. Matt decided to let Al wear them. He could just borrow a pair from Iain for a while. The Scot tended not to care, so long as his stuff came back.

They step out into the chill. It was like an icy bucket of water to the face, stingingly refreshing. Matt grinned, back in his element. Al was just glad for his warm clothes, he tucked Ro into his collar. She snuggled into the cozy fabric, scrubbing her cheeks dry. The cold air was sobering, halting her tears for a while.

*Wanna go for a walk?*

*Yeah.* Except for finding Ro, Al hadn't ventured outside for a while.

*It'll have to be quick... It's gonna snow again soon...* Not to mention that black bear might still be hanging around...

Al nods following behind him.

They link arms as they roam through the fringe of the trees, letting the fresh scent of the evergreens soothe their frazzled minds.

*Do you think things will calm down soon?*

*I think so, how bout you and I head home together and spend time with Ro for a while, then she can stay with you while I go see Vanya?*

*Sounds good to me. I was thinking about building her a dollhouse or something - so she's got something she can use. A little place that's her's...*

*Yeah.* Al smiles.

*Wanna help? Ro can design it herself!*

*Sounds fun.*

During the conversation, the trio had ventured further into the trees than intended. The trees closed in around them, undergrowth thick at their feet. A deep rumbling breath stopped them in their tracks, sending a chill down their spine.

...That came from behind them...

Al grabs Matt and launched straight up, his singed wing didn't let them get far fast though. A huge black paw swatted them back down to the ground, undergrowth padding their fall slightly. Ro was thrown from Al's shoulder and sent skittering off ahead. Al groans landing on top of Matt.

Matt shifted beneath him, tensing. *Al... You okay...?*

*Yeah just pulled a few feathers..*

*Get Ro... Run...* he shouldered Al off to the side, shoulders shivering.

Al stumbles over picking her up and turning back to Matt.

The black bear was rearing up to strike again, readying to crush the blond into the mud, but Matt was quicker. He lunged at the beast, body rippling and changing in midair.

He was morphing!

Bear leapt out, barreling into his dark counterpart, claw and teeth ripping.

Al sighs with relief fleeing up to the trees. At least Matt had a size advantage against that thing.

The bears clashed, snarling and snapping behind them. Both of them were taking damage but Bear seemed to have the upper hand... Uh... Paw.

Al sits watching, what good was a bird in a bear fight? Ro crawled up into his shirt, trembling. A fairy in a bear fight was mince meat... Blood already splattered the ground, flesh tearing under strong teeth.

Al whines worriedly trying to feed into Matt. But it was hard without contact.

The bears went down, brawling and tumbling. One of them howled in pain suddenly.

Al tensed jumping a few trees closer.

The black bear rose up, blood pouring down its front. Bear lay on the ground, white fur coated in the gorey substance.

Al crouched skin on his hands scaling from nerves.

The Black bear toppled back, great body crashing to the ground. Bear morphed back, leaving Matt laying on the floor, gasping and panting.

Al drops down running to him worriedly.

The Canadian was covered in blood, staggering to his feet clumsily. Matt himself didn't look too hurt, but Bear had taken a battering.

"Mattie?!" Al grabs his arm holding him steady.

"I'm okay," he gasped, gripping onto Al to keep himself steady. "Bear... He's hurt... Real bad, I..."

Al frowns hugging him.

"W-we need to get back inside..."

Al nods glancing to the corpse before helping him back. By the time they reached the house, Matt reeked of dead bear. He was light-headed and nauseous, struggling to stand. Al takes him inside setting him in a chair in the kitchen.

"What on earth is that god-awful smell?" Arthur gagged, coming to the kitchen for a drink. Then he saw Matt... "IAIN!"

Al had crouched in front of Matt, hand over his heart trying to assess damage. Just a few broken bones, some bad bruising... He'd gotten off lucky.

Iain came rushing down the stairs, nearly slipping on the kitchen tiles as he swung into the kitchen.

Al sighs hugging. "It's fine Matt, he's fine."

"What happened?" Iain came over anyway, checking Matt himself to be sure. Matt just let himself be manhandled.

"That bear came back.."

His head snapped to the window instantly, shaggy red hair flopping in his eyes.

"It's not comin.."

"Killed it," Matt rasped. "Corpse is in the trees..."

The Scot blinked then sighed, shaking his head. "You're a lucky little shit, you know that?! That thing could have killed you!"

Al sits gripping Matt's hand. "We didn't realize how far we went.."

Iain sighed irritably, trying to calm down. "Are you sure its dead...?"

"Bear tore out its throat..." Matt mumbled, leaning on Al's shoulder.

"Crude yet highly effective for predators.." Al sighs.

"Crude or not, the bastard's not getting back up..." Iain sighed. "Come on Mata, let's clean you up..."

Al grips his arm helping him upstairs. Iain followed, helping keep Matt steady. They soon reached the bathroom though.

"You get him cleaned up," Iain nodded, setting Matt on the toilet. "I'll see about cleaning up his clothes."

Al nods slipping Ro over to Iain. He helps Matt undress and takes off his own shirt setting them outside. Iain left with the fae and the soiled clothing. Matt sighed, forcing himself up into the shower. Al stayed nearby, washing his back when he came to it.

At least the hot water seemed to revive him a bit. Matt grew steadier, getting his feet back under him. They clean him up and head for clean clothes.

As soon as they had him dressed again, they headed back down for a snack - full morphs were exhausting... It's lucky he didn't end up stuck in the damaged form..

Ro came fluttering down after a while, settling in Al's hair without a word. Al silently offers her some apple. She took it and nibbled halfheartedly, wings drooping. Al sighs sitting with Matt.

"Guess we should book a flight or something soon..."

Al nods hugging his shoulders.

"Am I coming with you?" Ro asked quietly, as if scared they'd say no.

"We're not gonna leave you." Though he wondered how she would handle him visiting Ivan..

She fluttered down to sit on the table, looking up at them both. She knew Al wouldn't have her, she just didn't want to be alone...

He smiles gently.

Iain came downstairs just then, carrying the leftover potion. "Feeling better boys?"

They shrug together.

He frowned softly. "Why so glum?"

"Just tired I guess.."

"Alright then," he shrugged. "I'm gonnae go tip this in The Well..." The Well wasn't actually a well, much rather a deep dark hole in the garden that the Scot used to discard old potions.

Matt nodded softly before turning back to Ro. "We were thinking about building you a little house of your own when we get to Al's..."

Al leans his head on Matt's shoulder.

Ro was about to answer when Iain came back and suddenly dumped the entire cauldron of potion over her tiny body.

The boys yelped jumping back.

The sheer weight of it battered Ro into the table, leaving her spluttering and heaving for air. Iain watched intently. Al glanced to him confused and startled.

"Are you crazy, you could have drowned her!" Matt yelped, going to help her, but Iain stopped him.

"Watch..."

Matt did so reluctantly, gripping Al's hand. Al turns worriedly. Just one cup was bad enough, how would a whole pot burn?

She hunched over, tiny body trembling as it took effect. Her wings dried out then crumbled away like paper... Then her body started to grow! And she started to scream, stuck in pure agony.

He bites his lip.

Her tiny body expanded until she was roughly the same size as Ireland - just a petite little thing. The growing stopped, leaving her fighting for breath in a puddle of potion and a few shredded flower petals.

"Holy shit," Iain gasped, quickly taking his shirt off to cover her with. "I didn't actually think that would work...!"

Al blinks walking over. She sat up slowly, still shaking, or perhaps shivering, it was hard to tell. It was understandable though, that stuff stung! He reached over gripping her hand.

She jolted in shock, head snapping up. Like this, he could see the freckles that dusted her cheeks; see the pinkish hue to her irises; the amber highlights in her hair... She really was beautiful. "A-Alfred...?"

He chuckles grinning.

She twisted, looking over her body in amazement. "I-I'm..."

Al laughs hugging her. Then pulls back quickly realizing how undressed she is. She hugged back for that brief moment before realizing and blushing brightly, trying to cover herself up.

Iain chuckled softly, scooping her up off the table. "We'll be back in a moment."

Al glanced away from her to Matt.

Matt was still stood there, slack jawed and wide eyed. *I think the bear rattled my brain out of place...*

Al chuckles coming over to hug him.

*Did that really just...?* he hugged back, still trying to process it.

*Yeah.. Yeah it did..*

He broke out grinning, hugging tight. Al grips back laughing softly.

Iain soon returned, Ro dressed in one of Molly's old sundresses, this one a warm yellow. He sat her back on the table before mopping up the mess. "She's still getting her feet about her, so take it steady."

Al glanced up pulling Matt over. Matt couldn't stop grinning. He reached up to her gently, as if afraid she might disappear when he touched her. When she didn't, he laughed, pulling her into a warm hug.

They sit grinning, Al going to help Iain clean.

"Sorry if I stole your dollhouse project from you kiddo," Iain smirked softly. "I just got sick of you all looking so bloody sad all the time."

Al smiles. "It's fine, I think we'll live."

"She's got some bad scarring where her wings used to connect, but aside from that, she's just fine," Iain smiled too. "In fact, you could actually classify her as human."

He glanced over. She looked so painfully normal as she was right now, just snuggled up in Matt's lap. She looked like she'd belonged there her entire life. Al smiles softly.

"You look after her," the Scot patted his shoulder. "I'll send you back with some of Molly's old clothes, she won't mind."

Al hugs him. "Thanks.."

"Anytime kid," he smiled crookedly, hugging back.

They finish the mess and Al goes over to the others. They both smile up at him, excitement shining in their eyes. He joins in the hug. They cling to one another for a moment, letting it all soak in.

A few days later they settled back down, the boys and Ro packing to go home. Ro was bouncing excitedly, much like a child, full of wonder at what was a new world to her. Matt hadn't stopped smiling, despite the fact that Bear had gone back into deep hibernation to let his wounds heal.

Al had planed for them to group at his house for two weeks, come back for Christmas then head to Ivan's for the next two weeks during New Years. Everyone was excited! Iain had arranged it so the whole United Kingdom would have the holidays with them too, Ireland already on her way.

None of them had work to worry about either - after a huge argument a few years back, it was agreed that nations wouldn't be made to work from December mid January, so the next meeting was a while off.

They finish packing and take the bags and pets downstairs.

"You ready to go?" Iain was waiting at the door to drive them to the airport.

"Yeah all done."

"Off we pop then!"

They head out and pile into the car, buckling in. Ro fiddled with everything, asking what it all was and did and saying how small it looked to her now. The boys sit explaining while holding their respective animals in their laps.

"Mr. Kitty doesn't look so scary anymore either," she mused, still eyeing the cat with a certain degree of unease.

The cat just lay idly on his back snoozing. (My puggle sleeps like this all the time!XD)

She carefully reached over, gently touching his tummy before pulling her hand away. The tail twitched a bit but he didn't move. She watched him for a minute before stroking him slowly.

He purrs. She smiled softly, giggling lightly. Al grins.

"Guess he's not so bad," she smiled to herself.

"Nope." Al scratches his ear. She giggled again. Hero was only scary when he was bigger than you.

They soon arrive and pile out. The airport was loud and crowded. Ro frowned, gripping onto Al's arm. He holds her close and they say goodbye to Iain. Al had to check his cat in but Kuma had perfected an 'I'm just a teddy' act for when they were in public.

They send their luggage off with the cat before going to check in themselves. Iain and Al had sat up the night before, forging Ro a passport. According to it, she was 14 and travelling with her brothers, having taken the name Rose Jones. That way, Ro could be passed off as a nickname.

They board the plane and sit in for the flight. Ro spent half the flight watching the sky from the window, missing her wings already. Al frowns slightly.

She sighed, reaching for where they should have been. Al grips her hand. She closed her eyes, squeezing tight.

"I'll take you up anytime you want." He smiles gently.

"It's not quite the same," she smiled sadly. "But thank you..."

He squeezed. She gripped tight, leaning against his shoulder. Al glanced to Matt. Matt glanced up from his book, offering a smile. Al smiles back and they sit in for the flight.

By the time they came to land, all three of them were sleepy and eager to get home. They pick up their bags and the cat, grabbing a cab.

Ro fell asleep within minutes, completely exhausted. Being big took more energy than she was used to...

They get to Al's Virginia home, said American carrying her inside. (He has the house in Virginia from the storage closet ep and an apartment in NY-the horror movie and Jpn roommate eps)

"I'll sort the bags out, you get her settled," Matt smiled warmly.

Al had plenty of guest rooms in the house, it would be easy enough to give her one. He takes her to one and tucks her in. She lay peacefully in the bed, snuggling down.

They could live like this... Yeah, life was good.

So that's that. One chapter shorter than Captured making this my shortest fic aside from Caged. (Then again that's just a oneshot.) Simply already has a few ideas for the next fic and you all are probably gonna hate us for it.. Edit, Ro is now 14