***Time Stamp: September***


"Do you think they will hate us?"

Victor watched as the carriage moved up the drive of the Way home.

"I do hope not...it has been a long time since we saw them, but we did act rather appallingly before."

Mike looked out of the window.

"At least they are together now, as they should have been from the beginning...Gabriel certainly has a lot to answer for."

As the carriage stopped, another carriage stopped behind it.

"Well I feel a bit better now. I guess they were expecting company."

"It seems so."

Mike nodded as he opened the door and stepped down before helping his brother out. Victor watched as two gentlemen climbed out of the carriage behind them. One was a bit stout, but still handsome. The other was lithe and had an air of mischief about him. They bowed and tipped their hats and Victor found himself blushing for the first time in almost a year. Mike too blushed, smiling shyly at the two men.

"How do you do, I am Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III and this is my business partner Patrick Stump."

"Hello, I'm Victor Fuentes and this is Michael my brother. We are known as the Veil Brothers."

"Are you mutual acquaintances of The Ways?"

"We are old friends from England."

"Visiting?"

"Well sort of. We are more like messengers from The Way Matriarch."

"We have heard much of Madame Rush, though we have not had the pleasure..."

Patrick spoke with his eyes almost exclusively staying on Mike's face.

"Is she as formidable as it is said?"

Mike looked to Victor to answer; as being scrutinized by the other man seemed to have rendered him mute with nerves...he had never been like this around a man before...it was sort of exciting.

"She can be quite a lady, but she can also be quite scary at times, especially when you cross her family."

"I see, well we will be sure never to do that then."

Peter stepped forward and then swept his hand.

"After you."

Mike took Victor's hand.

"Thank you sirs."

The brothers started to walk toward the front step. Mike fell into step next to Patrick.

"Michael, wasn't it?"

Mike nodded.

"Yes, but everyone calls me Mike."

Patrick smiled.

"Then I shall also."

The four men reached the door and Patrick stepped forward to knock. After a moment the door opened, a small dark skinned girl in a maid's uniform looked up at them.

"Masters Wentz and Stump...welcome sirs..."

She looked at the other two in slight confusion.

"And?"

She asked, awaiting names so she could announce all of the visitors at once.

"Masters Victor and Mike, the Veil Brothers."

Peter could almost see the worry in both young men's eyes. He wondered what the relationship to the Ways was, or perhaps it was to their wives. They all walked in and the Veil Brother's admired the home as Peter and Patrick took off their hats and waited for one of the Ways to appear. The longer it took, the more nervous the brother's got.

"So sorry gentlemen, I was helping Ryan with...Mike? Victor? What a...surprise."

Michael was aghast. No one knew where they were other than Elena and her servants. He immediately was ready to defend himself.

"Greetings Young Master Way. We come bearing news from Madame Rush."

Ryan stepped out of the parlor to greet their guests and stopped in his tracks, his mouth falling open.

"Why are you..."

A smile broke out on his face as he stepped forward taking one of each of the Veil brothers' hands in his.

"Welcome...you've had a long journey...come, I will have cook prepare you something, then you can tell us why you have come all this way."

He turned to look at Michael and noticed that he looked a little perturbed.

"Michael, could you see to it that one of the guest suites is ready before you start your meeting please?"

He smiled sweetly then turned to Patrick and Peter.

"A pleasure as always gentlemen."

He nodded to each then pulled Victor and Mike through to the parlor.

Michael knew that he needed to find his brother. Maybe he had spoken to Elena in a letter.

"Gentlemen, if you would have a seat, I will fetch my brother and after I take care of the other task, we can get down to business."

"Of course, take your time, we understand."

Michael nodded to Peter and then headed up the stairs hoping his brother was not doing anything he would feel bad for interrupting. Gerard was sat on his bed with his back to the headboard, a book in his hand, and a sleeping Frank's head in his lap. He looked up and smiled when the door opened to reveal his brother. The smile slipped however when he saw the look on his face.

"What happened?"

"Peter and Patrick are here...along with the Veil Brothers."

Gerard's eyes widened, then narrowed.

"What do they want?"

"I don't know. They are waiting for us to arrive. Ryan has them getting refreshments."

"You left them with Ryan?"

Gerard quirked an eyebrow as he carefully moved out from beneath Frank's sleeping head and climbed off the bed, seeing Frank curl up into a little ball. He smiled fondly at the sight then ushered Michael out of the room, shutting the door quietly once they were both in the hallway.

"So you trust them now?"

"It wasn't my idea! Ryan said something before I could! He told me to prepare guest rooms."

Gerard sighed.

"Why don't you go back and make sure your fiancé is alright, and I will sort out the rooms...I feel like I need a moment to prepare for their presence."

Michael nodded and after squeezing Gerard's hand, left. Gerard watched him go then walked along the hallway and around the corner to the guest wing. He went to the first room and opened the door. The room was neat and clean, and smelled faintly of the lavender sachets that Ryan and Frank had made for all of the drawers in all of the bedrooms.

Gerard nodded to himself before checking that the adjoining bathroom had towels, soaps and anything else the brothers would require...then he passed through the other door into another bedroom, a mirror of the first, to see that that too was in perfect order.

It was slightly irking that there was nothing missing or out of place, as that gave Gerard no reason to delay further.

Leaving the second bedroom, Gerard decided to look in on Frank...though he knew he was simply putting off the inevitable. When he reached his room again, he quietly opened the door and peered inside. Frank was still curled up on his side, and he was still sleeping...snoring softly. Gerard smiled and softly closed the door again, leaving Frank to rest.

Taking a deep breath, he headed down the stairs and toward the parlor. As he approached, he heard the sounds of talking and laughter. He frowned slightly and pushed in through the door to see what was going on.

Ryan was sat perched on Michael's right knee as he nibbled delicately on a sugar cookie and giggled at Peter who was waving his arms around as he told what was certainly a tall tale, while Victor seemed to be hanging on every word with a youthful look of wonder in his eyes. Patrick shook his head in exasperation, but grinned at his friend because he was used to this by now, though, unless Gerard was very much mistaken, Patrick's attention seemed more focused on the younger Veil brother, than on his longtime friend and business partner...and the feeling, it seemed, was mutual. Gerard met Michael's eyes with a confused look.

"What did I miss?"

He mouthed from the doorway as Peter continued with his story.

"And then he said..."

Peter puffed up his cheeks and did a low funny voice.

"I don't think that will fit in there Sir."

Peter let the air out.

"Then I said...Not if you don't open it first!"

Peter started to laugh again and Victor was to the point of tears. He pulled his handkerchief out and handed it to Victor. He blushed taking it shyly.

"Thank you."

He smiled demurely. Peter felt his heart catch.

"You are most welcome."

Victor turned to speak to Ryan and saw Gerard in the doorway.

"Master Way."

"Hello Master Fuentes...what brings you and your brother..."

He bowed slightly toward Mike.

"...all this way?"

Victor could taste the disdain in the air from the oldest Way.

"We bring you news from your Grandmother. Once we have said our peace, we will take our leave."

Victor knew Gerard did not want them in his house.

Gerard sighed, squeezing the bridge of his nose...he did not need this right now, but if Elena sent them...

"No, you can stay. I made sure the guest rooms are ready, so you may as well..."

He looked Victor in the eye, his voice going from resigned, to hard.

"But I will have no nonsense from either of you. We will not have Frank or Ryan upset...is that clear?"

Victor hung his head

"See here now Master Way, that is no way to speak to a delicate flower as this fair one is."

Peter was appalled at Gerard's behavior. Gerard scoffed slightly, but covered it with a cough when he saw the serious expression on Peter's face.

"I do apologise Master Wentz, but you do not know these young men as we do. However..."

He turned to Victor and Mike.

"I may have been a little harsh; it is just that our beloveds have been through much..."

He saw Ryan pressing into Michael's chest at the bad memories.

"...and they are somewhat delicate themselves, especially now, so we do not wish them to be bothered by your...games."

"I think we will take our leave now. We will send you a telegraph with the news."

Victor and Mike stood. They turned to Peter and Patrick.

"It was a pleasure gentlemen."

They bowed and left the room, heading for the door.

"No wait...please."

Victor stopped and looked for the voice. He was surprised to see Frank...quite with child coming slowly down the stairs.

"Please stay."

Victor saw Frank stumble a bit and ran forward to steady him.

"Careful Frank."

Frank smiled and let Victor lead him to the sofa. He sat and pulled Victor gently with him.

"It is good to see you Victor. What news do you bring from home?"

Victor saw that Frank looked tired, but he was glowing.

"Madame Rush sends her greetings and asked me to let you know that Master Saporta and Professor Hartwell have been incarcerated."

---

Patrick frowned at Gerard. He had not known him that long, but he thought him better than that.

"Master Way, I appreciate that you are protective of you and your brother's charming young wives, but I do not think it was necessary to bite the heads off of those poor creatures who have come all this way to deliver a message to you...do you?"

Gerard looked at the others in the room to learn their opinions...everyone remained quiet for a minute.

"I think he's right Gerard..."

Ryan said softly, breaking the awkward silence.

"Victor and Mike do not seem like the same brash and catty young men that we knew back in England. I fear that Gabriel's influence on them may have made them that way and now that they are free of him..."

He left the sentence unfinished, raising a knowing eyebrow at his brother in law. Gerard huffed...he did not like being told he was wrong. Ryan struggled to get up from Michael's lap. He was not as far along as Frank, but standing up and sitting down were already becoming a little difficult.

Gerard stepped over and took his hand to help him.

"You're right."

"Aren't l always?"

Ryan smiled, leaning in and lightly kissing Gerard's cheek before walking away toward the hall.

Gerard watched him go and was about to say something to the men that were still present, when...

"REALLY?"

Gerard looked at Michael, then the brothers shot toward the entrance hall where Ryan was stood looking shocked, Mike was stood to the right of the door, and Victor and Frank were sat on the small settee, side by side.

"What's going on?"

Gerard rushed to Frank's side, crouching next to him and taking his hands in his...he looked between all the fair one's faces, ending back on Frank.

"What happened?"

Frank looked at Gerard.

"Gabriel and Maxwell were arrested and jailed."

Gerard's eyes widened. He looked between the Veil brothers.

"How were they caught, what for, and for how long are they going to rot?"

"Uh...are we interrupting anything? Should we schedule this meeting another time?"

Peter came out of the kitchen with Patrick holding their hats in their hands. Ryan turned toward them with a smile on his face. He knew the others would stop their conversation.

"No. Please stay for dinner? We just received some good news and I think we should be celebrating."

Patrick smiled at the younger boy.

"Well I would be honored to stay..."

He looked at his friend.

"Peter?"

Peter looked at Ryan and then at Victor. The younger man still seemed to be intimidated by the oldest Way.

"If Master Way apologises to the Veil Brothers."

Gerard opened his mouth to complain, but with a look and a single raised eyebrow from Ryan, he relented and turned toward Victor and Mike. He sighed then spoke clearly, calmly and sincerely to them.

"Master Victor, Master Mike. I treated you harshly and unfairly. I am truly sorry and I hope that you can accept my apology and forgive me. And I hope that you will both accept all of our invitations to stay with us for dinner, and for the extent of your stay in the country."

He bowed his head to them and studied the floor as he awaited a reply. He did not expect to hear a giggle to come from Mike's lips...he looked up curiously.

"Well if you wish for us to stay in your guest rooms indefinitely..."

Gerard stared, shocked.

"You mean..."

Mike and Victor both smiled and nodded, but Mike answered for them both.

"Madame Elena thought we may find happiness if we sought out new scenery. We are here to stay."

"That's wonderful news indeed."

Frank looked up and saw that Peter was beaming. He also saw that Patrick was just as happy. Ryan and him made eye contact and exchanged knowing looks.

"Well then, why don't you gentleman go discuss business in the office and let us fair ones tend to supper?"

"Sounds perfect..."

Ryan grinned. He stepped over to offer Frank a hand up. Michael looked at his beautiful wife. He often wondered if there was any regret of losing their own life and title in order for them to be happy.

"Well then shall we gentlemen?"

Gerard pulled on Frank's other hand to help Ryan lever him up from the settee then wrapped an arm around Frank's expanding waist and pulled him close.

"I will join you in the library..."

He said to his brother and their business partners, then looked into Frank's warm eyes.

"I just need to speak to my wife for a moment first."

He smirked, leaning in to press a kiss to Frank's lips.

"Well..."

Ryan said with a smile as he linked arms with Victor and Mike, leading them toward the kitchens.

"When you have finished talking to my brother, please send him our way."

They disappeared into the kitchen and Patrick clapped Michael on the back with a laugh.

"Quite a firecracker you have there..."

He nodded toward the kitchen.

"He can be a bit of a handful at times, but I like that he speaks his mind. After you Sir."

Michael bade the way and Peter and Patrick both walked toward the office with Michael just behind. When they were gone Frank and Gerard were alone.

Gerard stroked his fingers through Frank's hair as their lips parted and they looked contentedly into each other's eyes.

"I love you so much Frankie..."

He looked down, moving one hand from the small of Frank's back, to his belly, rubbing slowly.

"And once this little one is born, we will all have a perfect life together...you me and Eleanor."

"Or Elliot. It could still be a boy you know."

Frank smiled a bit knowingly.

"Or maybe it is both."

"It certainly feels like there are two in there and they are always fighting."

As if on cue Frank's stomach bulged a bit and Gerard's hand popped off.

"See?"

Gerard chuckled happily.

"So is that Eleanor or Elliot?..."

He crouched down and kissed Frank's belly.

"You be nice to each other, you hear me in there?"

"Stop it you mad man."

Frank chuckled and bumped Gerard lightly with his belly causing him to teeter a bit. Gerard looked up and stuck out his bottom lip in a fake pout.

"You would try to push your babies' father onto his arse?"

Frank giggled.

"You really need to get in there and act like you run the business."

Gerard pushed himself up onto his feet then pulled Frank back into his arms.

"But I would much rather scoop you up, carry you to our bedroom and make love to you until the morning..."

He leaned in and kissed Frank's soft lips before pulling away.

"But if you insist?"

He turned toward the library with a smirk on his lips, wondering just how far Frank would let him walk. Frank was about to grab for Gerard when he heard a voice clear behind him. He turned and saw a blushing Victor.

"Um...Ryan was wondering what was taking so long?"

Gerard sighed, he looked back at Frank, offering a regretful smile and a small shrug.

"I guess we will have to pick this back up later my love."

Frank smiled and watched him go. He shook his head and turned back to Victor.

"So Peter huh?"

---

Gerard walked into the library and the other men all looked up, smirks on their faces.

"I'm a man!"

He exclaimed.

"Do you blame me?"

Michael said nothing, but rolled his eyes.

"Now gentlemen, to our newest venture."

---

Ryan smiled as Frank and Victor walked into the kitchen.

"Happy?"

Frank struggled a bit to pull himself up on the stool next to his brother. When he was finally settled and stopped puffing he answered.

"Yes, more than I ever thought I could be."

The rest of the day was spent with reminiscing between old friends and new. Fences were mended and new bridges were built over the meal. Gerard and Michael watched as Patrick and Pete got to know the Veil brothers as the evening went on. They loved the knowing looks on their wives faces as Frank made sure that both sibling sets had a little too much spirits so they had to stay the night. At the end of the night, they all retired to their rooms and the Way brother's could not be happier that they made that move to Colchester when they did because it not only resulted in Gerard being able to tame the wild attitude of Frank, but it also allowed Frank to tame him and resulted in them getting the happiness that they all deserved.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how's you?...

So we've cum to the end of another adventure, but I'm sure you'll agree that everything ended as it should?

We are still writing our other fics and have more planned, so you'll see more from us soon, I'm sure...but until then...

PLEASE COMMENT, and peace out babies!
<3


ps. Hope you all had a great Xmas. X