Hello, it's me. Yep! That's right, I've got another chapter for you. I'm terribly sorry for its tardiness. I hope you can forgive me! Anyway, I would like to say that I will be trying to post as often as I can since I have a lot of time on my hands. And I would also like to assure you all that I will definitly, without a shadow of a doubt, be finishing this story! I'm not giving up on it, it is just taking longer than I thought to find time to write. But yes, here is a new chapter! I hope you enjoy it. And as always, feel free to leave a comment. Creative criticism is always welcome! I hope you have a wonderful day/evening! - Tigora7136

Cymru PoV

It was strange really, to think that should this meeting never have happened, no one would have known about any of this. Or rather, Arthur wouldn't have said anything. Where would they be then? Where would Cymru be? Probably at home worrying about his brothers and tending to his garden. He definitely wouldn't be sat here, in a weird hotel room looking after his sleeping nephew and waiting for his eldest brother to arrive as backup… When was the last time he needed backup like this? No. He was getting sidetracked.

Moving around the room seemed to help a bit, yes. Pacing would help this situation! Probably, okay maybe it didn't but it did help to calm the Welshman at least a little. How long has it been again? 20 minutes? Alba should be here by now! His brother had said he would be half an hour, in Alba speak that was 15 minutes. Maybe he forgot the room number? Or maybe traffic was bad? But since when had traffic ever stopped Alba? Or anything really? Oh! Maybe-

A loud knocking at the door interrupted Cymru's thoughts before they could get too far. Walking briskly toward the door, the Welshman desperately hoped that it was his brother, he didn't want anyone else right now. Waiting behind the door, he waited. Listening for something that would help him decide whether or not he should open it.

Knock-knock knock

Perfect! That was definitely his brother, it was the exact same knock he had used when they all lived in the hut as kids. It hadn't changed in all these years, a comforting secret only he and his brothers knew. Rushing to the door Cymru could feel a weight lift from his shoulders at the sight of his eldest brother and the knowledge that he wouldn't have to do this alone. Well, as alone as he was with an emotional nephew in the room snoring away blissfully unaware of the new arrival.

"Alba!" he exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper. Gesturing the man to step into the room and a silent plea to remain quiet as possible while the conversation was carried out. "What took so long? Where's Shawn? Why do you look so messy?" Question after question shot from beyond his lips as Alba hung up his coat and placed his bag beside the younger man's things.

"Calm down lad. It took so long because I had to drop Shawn off first, he is at home with Arthur. They should be here either by tonight or tomorrow morning depending how tired they are" The man calmly sat down on a chair in the corner waiting for his younger brother to sit across from him. His eyes casting quickly to the snoozing form in the bed, lost to the world around him as he slept. "Tell me what's been going on here then"

So he did. Cymru told his brother everything that had been happening while he was absent. How he had made Arthur promise to stay in touch, and how Matthew had had a call from Alfred asking him to come to the meeting early and to bring Keith with him. How Arthur had sent him with them. How they had found out why Alfred had been acting so different towards their brother. The fight in the eating Hall.

"He what?!" A hushed yell erupted from the red head causing Cymru to flinch and the sleeping form of Keith to stall slightly. Waiting with baited breath the brothers waited for their nephew to fall back to sleep - heaven knows what Arthur would do if he knew they had woken his son. And he would know, he always seemed to bloody know.

"Apparently the brat is in love with Artie, trust me I had the same reaction as you!"

A strange yet familiar rage filled the brothers at the thought of someone who had hurt their family wanting to get so close again. Like Arthur was some forbidden fruit they had to have, after throwing him away like some common treat. It wasn't the first time any of them had felt this way, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. This protective rage had come forth so many times throughout history, each time more intense than the time before. What could you expect from a family that grew with only each other as company? They never really liked strangers, strangers didn't know their rules and that made everything so difficult. Or, at least, that was how the older Kirkland saw the situation. Life was easier before all of this, before other countries tried joining them. When it was just the four of them, living in perfect isolation.

Albas thoughts were cut short by his brothers worried whispers.

"What do you think we should do? I mean, we can't not do anything but-"

"And we won't" He cut in. "We both know that the brat is gonna try something with Artie. He's already said so, we'll just have to be ready"

"You.. You don't think he will try anything during the meeting do you?"

"No" leaning forward slightly Alba moved closer to the blonde, who copied his movement. "I think he is going to do whatever he can to impress Artie. He wouldn't interrupt a meeting because Artie wouldn't like that. I think he'll wait to and do it before or after the meeting"

"Think he knows to be careful?"

"Not at all" A malicious chuckle left Albas throat "But that's the fun in it"

"Wanna record it?"

"Maybe, but I think we should be on the lookout. I'd prefer to have the upper hand in all of this. Best way to do that is control the situation"

A slight sound of confusion escaped the blond man across from him, a hint that the elder man should expand on what he meant.

"We could lead them to a room where they can talk and who is allowed in the room. You know, controlled areas… like how we went camping to make sure Artie didn't have to see anyone but us"

"Even though Mattie and Keith ended up joining us"

"Ah but Arthur let them. Think of it this way, we let the boys join us. We wouldn't have let Antonio come to join us, even if he turned up at the house"

"Antonio?"

"Apparently he has been visiting quite a bit recently. Probably because most of Artie elderly keep moving to Spain when they retire. That's what Artie told me a while back anyway"

"Makes sense I guess" A stifled yawn pushed past Cymru's fist as he failed to hide his exhaustion. Standing, Alba ushered him to the second bed in the room, closest to the window. Getting him settled and waiting for him to fall into the arms of Morpheus before leaving the room. It was time to make a phone call to a certain brother of his.

Ring ring. Ring ring. Ring-

"Hello?"

"How'd it go?"

"Not the best, but he is sleeping now"

"What do you mean not the best? What happened?"

"I found him sorta passed out. He did something stupid. It's sorted but I told him he needs to talk to you himself when we get to the hotel"

"How stupid we talking here?"

"Open all the cages in the zoo kind of stupid"

"Of course it is. Right I'll have a word with him when you get here"

"Don't be harsh with him brother. He apologised and he regrets it. I made him promise not to do something like that again. He seems legitimate in his promise"

"I know. But he needs to know that we can't have him do something like this each time we leave him alone for a bit. It's either we sort it out or we seek help from professionals. And we all know he won't like that"

"Agreed. But still, let him talk?"

"Fine"

"How was your blonde?"

"Stressed, I just got him to bed actually. But we have a lot to look out for this time. In all honesty, I'm worried for how it's gonna go"

"Really?"

"I'll tell you when you get here. Speaking of, when are you getting here?"

"Early morning. We're getting a taxi there so expect us there around eight or nine-ish"

"I'll meet you both in the lobby area"

"'kay… Alba? You ever wonder how this all fell apart?"

"More often than not. But that wont fix anything"

"I know, but…"

"Yeah"

"I'll see you in the morning?"

"Definitely, I'll talk to you soon"

"Night night"

"Goodnight Shawn, get some sleep"

With that the Scotsman hung up the phone and settled into his chair for the night. Knowing he wouldn't be sleeping that night he did what any normal person would do; opened the free game apps on his phone and prepared for the next three hours to be mind numbingly boring.

After tomorrow, nothing would be the same again. Tomorrow, they go to war.