A.N. Um... Can I apologise for the long wait and get away with it? Anyway, waits of this long should probably be expeced from me, with things this long... I'm not entirely happy still, but I guess that it will have to do - I've kept you long enough. Please forgive any OOC, this has been written over a few months. Any advice or corrections gratefully recieved. Timings on the last China and Britain parts are fairly arbitary, and I'm not sure how I wanted to do them...

Warnings for this chapter: Fluff? Oh! And suggestions of grevious bodily harm, possibly with intent to kill.

Part order: Switzerland, Britain, China, Britain (Romania and Bulgaria), Japan, Britain, China.

"Good afternoon," the boss nodded to Dr Hassan as she entered the hospital area. She had a tight hold on Vash's wrist, and was dragging him behind her. He was not complaining, although his face was overly annoyed.

"Hello, Vash, Solveig," Dr Hassan nodded to them, "I have her over here."

The Egyptian woman gestured to where a blonde girl was sat, her back to them, and sipping a mug of something. Ravis and Eduard were no longer in the room, although the strawberry blonde and brunette males were.

The girl's hair was cut to just above the level. Of her chin, which could either be male or female. Relativly short, she was only in her early teens.

Vash looked between Solveig and the girl, giving the boss a glare. She waved him off, and began to walk towards the main ward. Dr Hassan, however, stopped her and began to speak.

Vash, however, was ignoring this development. Instead, he was looking at the girl, "Lilli?" He spoke only after a few moments.

When he did so, she tightened her hold on her mug, before looking around. She frowned for. A few seconds, before placing the mug on the table and giving a bow.

"Big Bruder?"

He made a strange noise in the back of his throat, entirely unaware of his scowling boss leaving with the other two, and Dr Hassan disappearing further into the building.

However, the noise he made when Lilli wrapped her arms around him was even stranger. He stood awkwardly, but did not push her off.

"I missed you so much, big brother," she mumbled into his neck.

"Yes, yes," Vash scolded himself for his lack of ability in this area, "you are well?"

"Ja," she replied, "and the family were very kind - I was there to entertain their children, no more or less."

Lilli knew that she had been lucky with her duties, and she also knew how to identify worry from her brother - a skill she had promised herself she would retain through her servitude. The children were now older and had made their own friends; the family had no reason to keep her longer, however much the children cried. And, they had been very patient in the early days when she could not leave the room for fear.

"Good. We will now return to my house, have dinner and go to bed. What do you want?" Although it would take someone who knew him well to see, Vash was relieved.

"Cheese fondue, if that is good for you," Lilli replied quietly, but knew that it was her brother's favourite. And, something she had missed.

She followed him out, and towards the home which they would now share.

Arthur stood in an office. The desk appeared messy, although if you were to look you would find method to the madness. The walls were pale cream, and the furniture made of dark wood. The curtains were only partially opened, being pulled back by the brunette at the desk – specifically his boss. Outside, the street lights were beginning to flicker on. On the walls were maps of the world – complete, separate continents, then one of Germany, one of Austria and one of Britain.

After a few minutes, Arthur cleared his throat, then spoke.

"Solveig."

The brunette woman turned with a jump, to face Arthur. Her face was expressionless, although her eyes startled, "Yes, Arthur?"

"You're idiot informants forgot to mention that the place did not open for another three months. Why, if I were you-"

"Thank you, Arthur," her voice was clipped when she spoke again, "Did you-?"

"I picked someone up from a debatably legal street merchant. He's currently asleep, but seems to be suffering from radiation sickness. Considering where he came from, I think this is probably. When I spoke to him, he seemed mentally stable."

Solveig raised an eyebrow, before slumping slightly in her seat.

"America. And another thing."

"Ja?" rolled her eyes, swinging her legs unprofessionally. Sighing, she then folded her arms on the desk, and rested her chin on them.

"He talks of a brother, although does not know where they were. All things considered, I believe he may have also been… Taken."

"I can ask the others to keep an eye out, but without a location…" she trailed off, sitting up again.

Arthur nodded, awaiting the continuation of the statement.

Solveig rubbed her forehead, "Do what you can. When he awakens, we will have to see… Both mental stability, and about this sibling. I take it you are free to take another, maybe two later?"

"I am."

She sighed, "Good. I don't think… I was going to see Gil today, but there were things to attend to..." she looked out of the window, eyes clouding over. She shook her head, passing one of the many stacks of papers from her desk to the man, "no matter. Hand these out. If people don't know how to fill them in, Yao will help them later. Non-urgent, but important. From what I can see," she grabbed one of her sheets of paper, quickly scanning it, "Three at Feliks', one at Vash's, your's… Yao has yet to report in – one assumes he is outside – so he probably has at least one, and there's two who are staying in the main house."

Arthur tucked them under one arm. He began to leave, and then turned, "Vash? And, speaking of Yao, I think he will be along to see you shortly."

"Lilli's back; confused, but otherwise well, which reduces the missing count to three. Plus your boy's brother, although that is side... Although, any information about..."She cut herself off with a wave of her hand, "And why so?"

"I'm fairly certain he picked up an extra. Who doesn't speak anything anyone recognises. And, he's sitting outside."

Solveig slammed her face into the desk, cussing under her breath.

"I'll let him in then?"

Sitting back up, she waved her arms around over-dramatically, "Why ever not?"

Yao was kneeling by the chairs outside Solveig's office, speaking to Ivan, when Arthur came out. Ivan was hiding under one of the chairs, and clutching the leg tightly. The European looked at the Asian for a few moments, both pairs of eyes narrowing.

"She'll see you now," Arthur glared, "And there are papers to file when you come out." He dropped the papers onto the chair next to Yao.

Yao narrowed his eyes at Arthur, whilst kneeling on the floor. Turning from the European, he began trying to coax Ivan from his hiding place. Arthur walked away, carrying another stack of paperwork.

Finally, the boy came out. The adult huffed slightly, but picked the child up. He entered the office. Solveig sat at the desk, calmly filling papers, as though she had not been swinging on her chair a few moments ago.

"Hello," Solveig looked up at the two.

"Good afternoon," Yao said, shifting Ivan in his arms. The boy squirmed, but clung tightly to him. When there was no response, "Evening, even."

"And you requested to see me because…" Solveig rested her head on one hand, frowning slightly.

Yao pulled a face, "I would have thought Arthur had told you."

"I wanted to hear it from you, but anyhow," she stood up, brushing down her skirt, "This is the child?"

Yao nodded, unsettling Ivan once more, before placing him on the ground. Immediately, the child latched onto his leg. At his actions, Solveig bit back a laugh, and knelt down. Looking back up at Yao, she smiled, "He is… adorable."

Yao mentally rolled his eyes and sighed in relief, "I've tried English and Chinese."

"Hum…" Solveig bit her lip, "Any others?"

"He was asleep before we could ask anyone else, and once we got back, they were otherwise occupied."

Solveig sighed, and thought for a moment, "Do you know his name?"

"Ivan," Yao replied, "Is what I understand it to be, aru."

She thought for a moment more, "Well, I assume not Middle Eastern or Japanese, then," she muttered, "Eastern Europe?"

Yao remained silent as she thought, resting one hand on Ivan's shoulder. The boy looked up.
"Da?" he asked, blinking at the adult.

Solveig looked at him for a few second, before nodding to herself, "Privet?"

The boy looked at her, and started speaking quickly, although still hugging Yao's leg. She smiled sadly, and shook her head at him, as he started to cry again. Solveig stood up, looking to Yao. He took this as his signal to pick the child up again, gently hushing him.

"Russian," Solveig walked back over to her desk, "I don't understand much, but that's the best I can manage," she turned back to the two, tossing a small book to them. Yao caught it with one hand, as Ivan started, "There's a dictionary – the two of you will just have to work something out."

Yao pulled a face, which Solveig grinned at.

"After all," her grin turned slightly darker, "You already speak how many languages?"

Yao quickly counted up, "seven."

"It should be easy, then." Her face showed that she knew that the eighth would not be like the others.

Eyes were rolled, as Yao flicked through the dictionary with one hand, "Thank you." He turned to leave.

"Oh, one more thing," Solveig was now twirling a pencil, and not looking at all in his direction. Yao, however, was looking at her.

"I asked Kiku to check something out for me – he won't be back until late. Possibly tomorrow."

"Where?" Yao frowned.

"York."

Yao stared at her for a few moments, before making a noise of annoyance.

"He'll be back soon enough, and it's perfectly safe," she spoke lightly, tone teasing, "You remember Roderich and Elizabeta, don't you?"

He did remember them, although he wondered why the woman was still in contact. Not happy, but satisfied, he bowed and left the room.

"Hello!" The strawberry blonde opened the door. The brunette was somewhere behind him, watching it.

"This needs filling in," Arthur passes him two piles of papers. The two males were around 17. They were already introduced to Arthur, as he had signed the paperwork, although Emma had been the one to check them. Observing more closely, he summerised that they had been through figurative hell and back - but not recently.

"Um... Georgi!" The blonde called.

The brunette was by his side in a few steps, frowning, "yes?"

"Paperwork," the first grinned, waving it around and cackling.

The other grabbed the papers from him, throwing them inside, "did you need anything else?"

"Tea," the strawberry blonde had his eyes narrowed at Arthur, before he turned to Georgi, "he drinks tea."

"Traian!" he shouted in reply.

"Have a good evening," Arthur pulled a face at them, "in the morning, someone will come by to explain things to you."

"Thanks," Georgi frowned.

"Was I right?" Traian shouted as Arthur turned to leave.

"You were," Arthur nodded to them, "good night."

Georgi pulled a face at his counterpart, but said nothing. Traian cackled again, before pulling the brunette inside.

Solveig looked up from the paperwork she had been signing, a few seconds before there was a knock at the door, "Enter!" She called, placing her pen down and one hand under the desk - she was not expecting anyone...

The door creaked open, Kiku slipping in.

"Good evening," she nodded to him as he bowed, "how was everything?"

"Their home was pleasant, the trains not as."

Solveig gave a short laugh, "and, what did they want?" She watched the Asian teen rub his eyes before he thought better of it, and put his hand down. The woman was not happy with sending one so young to fulfil errands for her, but she had little other option.

"They request a place to stay for an undefined amount of time."

"They have a house," Solveig frowned.

"Miss Elizabeta wishes to return to court in defence of Master Vargas," he assumed that the woman who was his boss knew of the case - it was her buisness to know, "but their house is not adequately protected to ensure the safety of her husband and their child-servants."

Solveig nodded - something certainly not to discuss over a tapped line. She extracted a notebook from under one of the paper stacks, tutting to hersewlf as she knocked the stack over. Picking her pen back up, she flicked to a map of the village.

"How many?" She asked, spinning said pen between her fingers.

Kiku eyed the knocked over paperwork as he answered, "four, including her. Two adults, two children. I would approximate at around 10."

"I'll pick it up later," she waved one hand as she took notes, "and, shall I assume the case will need to stay after she wins?"

"If she wins, surely?" Kiku was not querying her meaning, only his understanding of the English. With five languages which he spoke on an everyday basis, he sometimes confused them.

"Eliza does not loose," Solveig smiled at him, "get yourself home. Yao's worried sick."

Kiku pulled a face, but did not reply as he bowed and made his exit. After he left, Solveig smirked, and placed the pen against her lips - soon everything would be in place. Her face then fell to a frown as she looked to a photograph - the only thing which did not seem chaotic on her desk. It showed herself, a blonde man, a baby and a young child. She placed a kiss on it, before collecting the papers from her desk, and leaving the room.

It was nearly midnight by the time Arthur had finished filling in the necessary paperwork. He was sitting at a desk in the hospital, rubbing his eyes periodically. Ms Hassan was working the night shift – with only four patients left, she did so with the help of one of the nurses.

As he made his way back onto the ward, he nodded to the woman, and make his way to Alfred's bed. Signing off the paperwork, he picked up the boy, and made his way back to Toris' bed. Feliks was sleeping on the floor next to him, and the other two were asleep on one of the other beds. Yao had long since left with Ivan.

Ms Hassan appeared, holding a bottle of medicine. The two doctors nodded to one another, but said nothing else. Alfred stirred slightly, curling into the adult's chest, but not waking.

Arthur kept Alfred close to his chest as he walked from the hospital. He passed a large park, complete with football pitch, flower beds and a children's play-park, then the school – it was relatively small, and built of bricks, a memory of a by-gone age. Next to it was the library, inside an old, converted mining building. It was one of the few reminders of what the land once was, still surrounded by bracken and heather. There were a collection of other buildings on the street, each labelled by what they were – sweet shop, Church, clothing shop, ect.

A little way down the road, he made it to the residential area. It was a single street, all of the houses near identical – built of steel, glass and concrete. At the very end was a much older building – repaired many times, but built in a similar way to the school. It was larger than the others, forming the college of the university. It also housed what was left of the Beilschmitt family, and non-employed associates. A large, stone wall ran around the entire site – the only entrance was a gateway, always guarded by at least three men, and the lesser-known side gate, which required nine keys and getting through three doors.

Shifting Alfred until he was held with a single arm, Arthur pushed open the door to his own house, rolling his eyes as he found it unlocked. Of course, it was easier than unlocking with a child in his arms, but not preferable. Once inside, he toed off his shoes, and made his way upstairs as quietly as he could. Unfortunately, it was about at this point that he stepped on a toy car. He let out a few choice words, which caused Alfred to shift, and mumble something under his breath. More to the point, it led to the opening of another door.

A bleary eyed blonde looked at him, eleven years old. He was dressed in dark blue pyjamas, and was clutching his blanket around him as a cloak. When he saw Arthur, his eyes narrowed slightly, "You're late."

"I'm sorry," Arthur sighed.

"Who's that?"

"This is Alfred. I'll introduce you in the morning," Arthur sighed, wishing for sleep, " Over breakfast."

The boy made a noise of acknowledgement, "Bruce was worried. He's not come to bed," he mumbled, attempting to rub sleep from his eyes.

"I'll put Alfred to sleep, then find him," he promised, shifting the youngest child again.

"Um…" the elder child hummed.

"Mackenzie," Arthur frowned.

"Yes?"

"Go back to sleep."

"'Night, Dad," the boy made his way back into his own room, still slightly dreamy in his movements.

"Good night, lad."

Once Arthur was sure that he was back into his bed, he took Alfred into another room. There were two beds in it, although both were unoccupied. He placed Alfred on the left hand bed, and placed his lips to his forehead. Knowing from experience that children rarely enjoyed darkness, he took a night light from the chest of drawers, and plugged it into a socket. When he looked back to the child, he saw a pair of sleepy blue eyes blinking at him.

"Alfred?" he asked.

The eyes blinked at him again, before shutting. Arthur stayed for a few extra minutes, ensuring that the boy was asleep again, before making his way downstairs. He took a right at the bottom, entering the living room. The lamp in the corner was turned on, whilst a figure lay sprawled on the sofa. Arthur made his way over to it, yawning quietly as he did so. Once clearly within view the moment the other opened his eyes, Arthur tapped the teen on the shoulder. The male form was about 14, mousey-brown hair messy, and a plaster over his nose. Arthur knew that the reason was a rather ugly scar, that the boy was, when awake, very conscious of.

The boy woke with a start, a few seconds after being tapped. Almost on reflex, he grabbed a knife from the coffee table, holding it in front of himself. When he registered who was there, however, he put it down.

"Good evening, Bruce," Arthur's voice was blank, more due to exhaustion than anything else, "Or, should I say morning?"

"You're late," he folded his arms across his chest.

Arthur sighed, "I forgot how much paperwork was involved when you bring someone back."

Bruce's face lit up, "Brother or sister?"

"Brother. He's quite a bit younger than Mackenzie and you, and rather ill. He has a natural brother, although we don't know where. He seems fine, but I imagine that he is not." Arthur's eyes flickered to the knife, but made no comment, "Regardless, we can introduce in the morning. I think we should be heading to bed, now."

"Night, Mum," Bruce waved at him, picking up the knife and heading upstairs. Arthur followed a few moments later, stopping outside of the room that Bruce entered until the voices stopped. Once he was sure that everyone was asleep, he entered his own room.

The walls were painted a pale cream, a double bed in the centre. Over the bed hung a copy of oil-painting by Constable, whilst the other walls were decorated with old flags. Paperwork was stacked on an oak desk, and starting to topple off it. Pushing the leaning tower of paper back to a semi-upright position, Arthur changed into a grey night-shirt, and made his way to bed.

The only adult Asian in the village made his way down the residential street. He stopped infront of one of the houses, before unlocking the door and entering. Ivan was huddled against him.

Yao was almost immediately swamped by a group of children. One of the first to latch onto him was Yong Soo, a fairly common occurrence. Despite it being very early hours of the morning, all of the children were still up; Kiku, the eldest, was yet to return. Mei questioned him about this. Despite not knowing the answer, Yao said that he would be home for breakfast. Or words to that effect.

Once he had removed himself from his elder brother, Yong Soo started running around the room. He was soon knocking over various pieces of artwork, and semi-priceless antique vases. The vases were all cracked already, and seemingly repaired many times. Yao wondered why he still had them on display.

"Bed, everyone!" he shouted.

Mei looked at him with her one good eye, whilst Jai Long finally gave his attention to the eldest in the room.

"Teacher?" the boy asked, slouching on the sofa.

"Brother!" Mei looked at him, "Who is that?" She pointed to Ivan, wrapped around Yao's leg. Being pointed at, the child hugged the leg closer.

"This is Ivan," Yao sighed, "He will be living with us, and I expect you all to be nice to him." He looked specifically at Jai Long, although his eyes flickered to Yong Soo as the third eldest started sneaking up, "He will not understand you. Now to bed!"

Mei was the first to leave, wishing the males in the room goodnight and making her way upstairs. She was already dressed in her pyjamas, and Yao heard the tap run. He turned to the two boys. Yong Soo gave him another 'hug', before running upstairs and shouting something. Using the wall for support, Jai Long stood. Yao watched him as he carefully made his way across the room. Part way, the boy stumbled. The adult made no move to help, and Jai Long gave him a slight glare.

"Use your arms more," Yao spoke in English again.

"Whatever, teacher," Jai Long did seem to place more weight on his arm still in contact with the wall, waving dismissively as he reached the stairs.

Yao sighed, and looked to Ivan. Smiling lightly, he picked up the small child. Ivan yawned, and curled into the Asian's chest. Yao made himself some soup, and cleaned up the remains of the dinner the children had eaten earlier. All the while, he kept contact with Ivan. The boy had been fed whilst they were waiting to see the boss, although Yao himself had yet to have anything. At near one in the morning, the short Asian was rather hungry.

Once the soup was heating, he carried Ivan upstairs. He entered a room with plain walls, but decorated with embroidered screens. There was a bed in the centre, and a child's crib, rescued from the scrap-yard when Yao first moved to the country with his siblings, under the window. It was about three quarters of the length of a normal bed, and as wide as a single. It was surrounded by a high wooden frame, and decorated with images from nursery rhymes and folk-law. Not having a spare bed, Yao placed Ivan in the crib, and tucked him in. Ivan fidgeted, whining in Russian about the lack of warmth. Yao patted his head, and forced him to go down. He sang in Chinese until the boy appeared asleep. Once he was sure of it, he made his way downstairs – his soup was only just boiling. Slightly over-done, but edible. He used a ladle to put it in a bowl, then took a soup spoon from the drawer. He sat on the counter, and started to eat. Upstairs, he could hear Yong Soo talking at Jai Long, and the other ordering him to be quiet.

Just as Yao finished his soup, the front door opened. From where he sat, Yao could see his eldest slip through the door, and change his shoes.

"Kiku!" he called, "Good evening. Or, should I say morning?" His voice was light, but eyes hard.

Kiku looked up, folded his hands in front of him, and bowed, "My apologies for my lateness."

"There's soup left in the pan."

Once his shoes were changed, Kiku entered the kitchen, and served himself some soup, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Yao turned to the sink, and started to wash his own bowl. Kiku ate his soup much more quickly than Yao did, and came over.

"I can wash up," the teen offered, holding his bowl before him.

Yao took the bowl, and placed it in the sink with his own. As he did so, it finally became obvious that the teen was missing two fingers on each hand – and one on his left hand had been reduced to half of its usual size. Quickly, Kiku folded them together.

"Go to bed. You have a new brother, by name of Ivan, whom you can meet in the morning. Remember to brush your teeth," Yao did not look at the other while he spoke.

Kiku bowed as he left, only briefly hesitating in the doorway.

"We will talk in the morning," the adult finally looked at him.

"Of course. Is there anything else?" It was Kiku's turn to not look as he spoke, instead gazing at the stairs.

"Go to bed."

The teen did so, as Yao continued to clean the kitchen.