M:   Poldara noticed how scared Iremacht looked, he wrapped a wing around the German in comfort, "it wasn't your fault Iremacht, I'll tell dads everything, I don't know if they'll believe me but at least they'll know the truth."

Kaz and Russia glanced over their shoulders as they heard Poldara's words, they were slightly confused at the two's friendliness towards each other considering they knew about Iremacht's "handlings" in Moscow, they would have to ask about that later.

When they reached the statue, Belarus led them backstage where Mandara and Poland were arguing. They stopped when the group came into view, with Poldara running towards them when he saw them. Mandara kneeled down and hugged his son, Poland doing the same.

"Thank the gods your ok, Poldara," Mandara exclaimed, he started looking over his son, "did they hurt you anywhere else?"

"No, I'm fine thanks to Iremacht," the kid said, "he stopped them before they could."

"We know buddy, Bel told us," Poland said, then he and Mandara looked up to Iremacht, "thank you Iremacht, thank you so much."

L:   "I ..." Iremacht swallowed. He didn't expect Belarus to say good things about him. "I was only able to save one wing."

"You did what you could," France said. "Those goons would've done worse."

Wehrmacht stepped forward, his fingers fidgeting as he said to Mandara and Poland, "It was my fault for leaving them alone. We would've been safer as a group and I let them branch off."

"We heard that Poldara needs adult supervision wherever he goes," Germany said, folding his arms. "The fact that he doesn't feel safe in his own country is a concern we wanted to talk to you about. Something needs to be done about those teens, if not to them then to their parents for liability."

M:   Mandara glared at Germany, did he seriously just tell Mandara what he should be doing, did he really not think that as a father Mandara was doing everything he could already?

"Rus, Kaz, why don't you two take Poldara to get something sweet, to help calm him down," he said, standing up.

Kaz and Russia looked a little worried that Mandara was sending his son away when he was just hurt. But they wordlessly agreed, with Kaz giving Germany an apologetic look as they walked away.

When he was sure that they were out of earshot did he start with Germany, "you don't think I know that Germany, you don't think I KNOW THAT!! I have been doing everything in my power as a father and the countryhuman of Mandara to put a stop to this. For five whole years, I have done nothing but try my damnedest to protect my son, and everything I have done has brought up no results."

Mandara started tearing up as he confronted Germany, "you don't know what it's like to watch helplessly as your son is tormented and tortured, to see a bunch of adolescences strip away his ability to fly! It is a fate worse than death, Germany, and no matter how hard I try, I can't even protect my own son!"

With that, Mandara backed into a chair and put his head in his hands, "I am a terrible father," he mumbled as he started crying, "I can't protect my son in his own home, I just can't."

M:   Germany gulped as he saw Mandara's expression. He shrank at every word Mandara shouted. Of course, it wasn't his place to tell Mandara what to do. Even though Germany hadn't stepped out of line through actions, he had done so through his words. He was just as guilty as the rest of them.

Hearing Mandara's confession, Wehrmacht peeked at Iremacht and found his son glancing back.

Both opened their mouth at the same time and said, "Mandara, listen." They both stopped.

"You first," Iremacht said just as Wehrmacht said, "You go."

"You're the father," Iremacht reasoned, lowering his gaze. "You know better how it feels."

So Wehrmacht stepped up to Mandara and touched his wing with his own, hoping he wouldn't reject him this time.

"That makes two of us," Wehrmacht said ruefully. "Two terrible fathers. I couldn't control my son in his own home. And well ..." He paused. "That's not going to happen to you, Poland, and Poldara. Iremacht and I know this feeling."

Iremacht dipped his head in concurrence.

"At the time," Wehrmacht continued. "We tried to tackle the problem head-on. We didn't realize we weren't equipped or ready for it. I guess we tried everything, like you did for Poldara, and it still didn't work out. It wasn't until years later that I realized there was one thing I didn't try."

Wehrmacht looked at Poland. "I love Machty very much and want to keep him with me at all times. I didn't consider sending him to Ireland for a change of scenery or lifestyle too often. I should have. For you guys, it sounds like the problem isn't with your parenting but with the environment. Still, it's the same. I think, Mandara, you should let Poldara live at Poland's for a while. Have him continue his training there if needed. Nein, this doesn't mean Poldara is running away from the problem. It just means he needs to better prepare himself before facing it again."

M:   Mandara raised his head as Wehrmacht spoke, he didn't interrupt or argue, he just sat there and listened, only after Wehrmacht was done did he speak up, "I guess that makes sense, he's been there before but never longer than a few weeks. But what about when he comes back, those delinquents will still be here and they would jump at the chance to bully him again the minute he sets foot in this country. My problem isn't keeping my son from becoming estranged from his parents, it is stopping the teens from hurting him, and sending him away will only delay the inevitable."

Poland patted Mandara's shoulder, for once he didn't know how to comfort Mandara, so he just stood there awkwardly and waited for Wehrmacht's answer.

L:   "By then he will be well trained," Iremacht butted in. Wehrmacht stepped back to let his son take over. "Poldara is young right now. I admit he is vulnerable to almost anything. But when he gets older, after he's trained for years and is at least ready to join the army, he will be a different person to mess with."

"Just know," Wehrmacht added softly, "that it will mean Poldara might have to stay in Poland for a long time. For years, maybe."

France nodded along grimly. The hardest part about parenting was letting the child go. She'd done it four times and although it got better, it still stung as each one left to start their own lives.

M:   "My Blue-Jay is only twelve," Mandara said, "he's lived here his whole life up to this point, it's not as easy as packing up and leaving, he'll be leaving everything he's known behind for who knows how long."

Mandara took in a shaky breath, "I just can't do that to him, I know first hand what it's like to leave your home and not know if you're ever coming back. Poldara of course will have it better than me, Thunder, and Deutsche did, but we were young adults back then and handled it well for the most part. Poldara is younger and I don't think he'll understand why he's being sent away."

Mandara looked away, "and then there's me, I wouldn't be able to handle him being away. I know that sounds selfish, but he is the reason I have last so long when under stress, he cheers me up like no one else can, and just the thought of him being gone is too much to handle."

L:   "He won't be alone and he'll still be in contact," Wehrmacht reasoned. "He has Poland, his other father, to take care of him, and rightfully so. He isn't leaving his home, Mandara. He's going to a new one with Poland. His youth is the reason why it'll be good to send him now versus later. A change of scenery, of perspective and lifestyle, is an experience that all of us will have at some point."

"I'm sure you know," Iremacht added in frustration, "that Polds will get sick of being bullied all the time - if he isn't already. I had a conversation with him before we got here. He thinks he's worthless. Worthless. He's been here all his life and look what it's doing to him." Iremacht's eyes narrowed. "He helps you cope with stress at the expense of his own health. Yeah, you are kind of selfish."

"Machty," Germany snapped. "Watch your damn mouth!"

Iremacht growled and looked away. "I'm just thinking about Polds," he muttered. "I want him to have the childhood I couldn't have. So he doesn't turn out like me."

M:   Mandara shrunk back at Iremacht's words, while Poland glared at the German, "will you stop being so blunt all the time, your words do more damage than good."

"No, he's right Poland," Mandara sighed, "I am being selfish if I'm forcing Poldara to stay in a country that is dangerous for him, I just wish I realized it sooner."

He stood up from his chair, "thank you all so much for opening my eyes, I will take your advice into consideration and start making plans to have Poldara go to Poland. And Iremacht, thank you for protecting our son when I couldn't."

L:   Another thank you from Mandara threw Iremacht off. He really wasn't used to receiving gratitude from a country that he'd caused so much emotional turmoil in already.

"No, don't thank me," Iremacht said. "Things could've turned out better if I hadn't come." He dipped his head. "I apologize for my brashness. My ... career doesn't offer time for flowery words or consideration for others. I should be thanking you for opening my eyes to that."

Iremacht looked towards where Russia and Kazakhstan had disappeared with Poldara. He hoped the kid would take the news alright. He also hoped that he could sort things out with two other countries.

"I'm going to check on where Polds went off to," Iremacht said. "France, would you like to come with me?"

France met Iremacht's eyes and a moment of understanding passed between them. She nodded.