Alfred fell to the ground with a resounding crash as the innocent pistol bounced to the ground. Time seemed to stop when the last vibration of sound ceased to exist. The only sound was Olivine's defeated sighs. The bullet never reached the head of the depressed teen, for Olivine made sure of that. She had pounced on him with all of her strength to divert the blast, hurting herself in the process. The bullet barely grazed the side of her neck as she proceeded to turn him over onto his stomach. He would be safer if his hands were bound.

Arthur, Francis, and Matthew just made it back to the house in recored time. They filed out of the car to hear the last gun shot go off inside. Seconds later, Arthur had the door open. The scene before them was an unfathomable sight.

Heavy amounts of blood trailed from the kitchen to the living room, gushy handprints that tried to grasp the walls were streaked in a dragging manner, and two distressed siblings were covered in the red plasma that told the story of struggle. Francis gasped and almost cried from the horrible scene. They all heard Alfred's last words from Arthur's phone, each and every one of them knew how distraught he was when Davie died. They thought he was fine, it happened so long ago. Although, there are some things that some people can never forget.

"Take the gun!" Olivine demanded to one of the three blonds.

Matthew rebooted his emotions and did as he was told. The pistol was now switched to the safety position and stowed away in a secure place. Alfred couldn't look at his family, for he was too ashamed. All of this could have been avoided if he just said something. Even if he cried in front of them, something better could have happened. Instead, he shot his sister three times in an attempt to shoot himself. He was drenched in his own tears and blood of his wounded sibling. He was just too weak to do anything.

"Is... he..." Arthur's words were faint.

"I'm the one that's bleeding," Olivine pushed her words from exhaustion. There were two bullet holes in her shirt from the struggle. She managed to heal the wounds, but she wasn't able to retract the bullet from her system.

"We should take you to the hospital--"

"I am not going back to that place!" Olivine shot down Matthew's suggestion. That word brought back horrid memories that only Francis and Arthur knew about. It would take more than some convincing to explain the real purpose of a hospital.

"Alright, alright, calm down. Let him go, Olivine," Arthur approached the two carefully as Francis gathered cleaning supplies.

"What... what happened here? Why are you bleeding so much?" Matthew asked the obvious.

"We were fighting for opposite reasons," was all Olivine could say.

Olivine slowly released Alfred from her hold and caught her breath. Alfred proceeded to the fetal position to wallow in shame and misery. Matthew ran upstairs to retrieve the first-aid kit as Francis came over to clean the blood from both of their bodies. Arthur gathered the distraught American like a child to give him external comfort. It has been so long since Arthur held him like this, he missed how important it made him feel to be in Alfred's life.

Alfred latched onto him as if the world would end. This could be his chance. To say it, to yell it, to scream it. Just three words to change his fate. Those three words that were so far from him, yet, so close. But his throat wouldn't stop aching, his mind wouldn't stop racing, his stomach wouldn't stop churning.

"What's wrong Alfred? What's got you so worked up?" Arthur spoke softly into his ear like he would when Alfred was a child.

He couldn't form subtle vibrations into words. He just kept on crying, keeping his strong grip for support. Arthur rocked him back and forth while rubbing his back in comforting circles. Matthew placed some bandages around Olivine's wounds as Arthur took this time to assess to Alfred's bruises from the fall. Olivine winced in pain once more from the bullet that was lodged in her abdomen. Medical attention was needed, but she would continue to refuse.

Just then, the scent of sea salt wafted through the air. However, only Olivine and Arthur could sense it. The presence of a familiar person lingered around; they remained invisible for whatever reason. Meanwhile, Francis managed cleaning the kitchen and moved to the carpet... what a mess blood can make.

Alfred calmed down just enough to gather words. Not the words that he wanted though.

"I'm... I'm so sorry Olivine..." his voice was just above a whisper.

"It's not your fault--"

"But it was! I shot you three times! It's all my fault..."

"Alfred, I forgive you. It's okay; I'm fine, see? Everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay," she reassured with a smile.

Changing the sensitive subject, Arthur gently asked the burning question once more, "Can you tell us what's upsetting you? We just want to help you."

Alfred's mind couldn't find a place to start. His words were floating around in a sea of misery and self-harm. Just one word. One word is all he needed. His mouth moved but not a sound escaped. He fiddled with the hem of his shirt to find comfort in this awkward situation. Luckily, his body wasn't frozen like his words were.

The other three looked to Olivine for guidance since Alfred was unresponsive. However, she shook her head. Alfred needed to come clean. Saying it for him wouldn't bring any redemption. Just then, with shaky hands, Alfred began to lift up his shirt.

The others gasped once he revealed how thin he was. His ribcages were poking out, his skin was paler, and there were cuts all up his forearms. Francis cried with a hand over his mouth; Matthew shied away, ashamed that he didn't try to be a better brother; Arthur felt ridiculous for not realizing this sooner.

"He... he... help..." A few syllables leapt out. They were so quiet, so soft, so uncertain. Soon enough, they all came tumbling out like a river dam.

"Help... me... please. I can't... I cant live like this anymore! I don't want to live like this. I hate it. I hate that food is my enemy and my nightmares become the reality. I hate the person I was and who I am. This isn't me. I don't know where myself is, but I don't want this... I hate it... I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!"

Alfred's confession brought his tears once more. Although, he was not sad... he was relieved. A huge weight was lifted off his chest. A heavy burden that he once kept has just left the station. Step one to a better life was now complete.

Olivine smiled. It may not have been the way she wanted it to go, but Alfred finally confessed to the ones who wanted to listen. Things will be better from now on. Things will be better from now on.

On the contrary, he shut himself in again. He tried to hide from the world now that his secret was out. Arthur wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and pulled him in. Francis got down on his knees to join the huddle on the floor. Soon enough, Matthew did the same. They all wanted to be there for Alfred, they all wanted him to be a better person than the one he was currently.

"We're here for you, Al. I'm always next door if you want to hang out," Matthew sent comforting words to ease the pain.

"I know we haven't been much of a family lately, but from now on, we are going to be together more often," Arthur purposed.

"We won't smozher you, but we will pay more attention to you. For now, when was zhe last time you ate somezhing?" Francis put some bandaids on Alfred's newer cuts.

He didn't answer. They looked to Olivine.

"A few hours ago, we had some sandwiches. I made sure he ate it without throwing it back up," she replied with a hand over her abdomen.

"I'll make some soup, does zhat sound nice?" Francis smiled.

Alfred nodded, "Chicken Noodle?"

"Chicken Noodle it is zhen," Francis smiled contently.

Olivine made an odd sound which caught the attention of Arthur. She hid her pain once he looked to her, she didn't want anyone to worry about her. After all, this day was about Alfred. However, the pain only grew worse with every passing second.

"Are you okay?" He shifted Alfred in his arms.

"Yeah I'm fine. It's only a--" she hunched over onto her side.

A sharp pain spread from her lower abdomen to the rest of her body. Fast, short breaths were all she could make from the intense pain. Her nerve sensors lit up like firecrackers from the simultaneous pricks of agony. Seems like that bullet was going to cause more problems than expected.

"Olivine?..." Alfred whispered.

"Alfred... what... what kind of bullets are those?" She gasped.

"Lead bullets..." he reluctantly replied.

Only Arthur put two and two together, "Lead is poisonous."

The invisible figure revealed themselves to be the blue guardian. Cody leapt into action and took hold of the situation. He had heard everything, but his only concern was the one he loved. No offense to Alfred's situation, but that issue wasn't his jurisdiction. He knelt down to Olivine's side and gathered the atoms of water. He then used his Waterbending abilities to control the amorphous body of water around her abdomen area.

Before anyone could express the alarmed emotion, he said, "My name is Cody and I am her guardian."

Somehow, his presence calmed everyone. Like calm ocean waves, his aura relaxed the emotions of the others. Even Alfred relaxed his tensed muscles, slipping into a calm slumber. Just him being there made them feel that everything was going to be alright.

"Luckily it hasn't spread far, but this is going to hurt," he lifted her shirt to slip off the bandages. He then prepared to retract the bullet from her inside.

"How can you get it out? It's not like you can Bloodbend," she scoffed.

Cody stared at her with a sheepish expression.

"You can Bloodbend," she concluded.

"Yes, but I don't like doing it. It makes me feel like I'm controlling what ever I bend," he readied his hands, hovering them over the place where the bulleted was lodged.

"Do whatever you need to do, we've been in more dire situations before, right?" she gave him a sleepy grin.

"Yeah, we have been," he reminisced.

With a flick of a wrist, he used her blood to push the bullet out of her system along with the remnants of lead. His fingers were stiff as he worked, Bloodbending was not as easy as Waterbending. Through the course of his life he has mastered the art. However, it has been quite some time since he used it willingly.

Olivine's body remained still as she felt her insides moving. She didn't dare move her body for the fear of messing up his work. Luckily, Cody managed to retract the bullet in a matter of minutes. He sealed up her wound with healing water as he discarded the lead bullet in the trash can. After washing his hands, he introduced himself properly.

* * *

"So you're Cody, eh? Olivine has told me aboot you," Matthew commented.

"Good things?" Cody inquired.

"Yes, Cody, only good things," Olivine giggled from her spot on the couch.

Alfred, who now had his shirt on, came up to Cody with a relieved expression on his face. He was only about a inch or two taller than Cody.

"You're dating my little sister? Treat her well or I'll be coming for you," he challenged.

"Oh, we're not dating... she won't accept my love--" He was interrupted from a soft projectile from behind. Olivine chucked a pillow at the back of his head.

"I thought you were injured?" He teased, turning to face her.

"Pedo..." she smirked.

"Says the one who won't admit she loves me," he came back.

"I see zhat you two 'ave some 'istory," Francis noted from the kitchen.

"We've known each other since the beginning of time," Olivine estimated.

"It hasn't been that long," Cody sat beside her, "but I've known her since she was little. Really, really little."

"Cody has been there for me for as long as I can remember. You have nothing to worry about, Al," Olivine sighed.

Alfred exhaled as Matthew picked up Kumajirou. Arthur sat in his reading chair to signal that he was studying Cody. He believed that what Olivine was saying is true, but he wanted to see for himself. Alfred somehow got the idea that more tidbits from Olivine's younger life would be revealed.

"Story Time!" He announced with a cheerful grin.

"I'd like to know more about you too," Matthew sheepishly commented.

"Maybe you can help her remember more about herself," Arthur suggested.

The two teens looked to each other. They never really had anyone to share their stories with except each other. There was a lot they could share, just finding a place to start would be a challenge.

"Well.. I guess we can start by where we lived," he looked to her with a reminiscent gaze, "There's a vintage mansion deep in the forest where we lived for many years. When Olivine was a child, we would go and explore the maze of rooms until the sun went down. Other times, we would travel the world for new lands and new customs. She never liked cities, being the forest girl she was."

Olivine did her best to hide her embarrassment. In truth, she did remember those things. As he continued on, the memories uncovered themselves from their veil of darkness. Those long days and short nights, those journeys across foreign lands, the new languages that were so beautiful, and all the times she fell out of trees... only to be caught by his awaiting arms. She couldn't think of a time where they were apart.

The day the Earth split ruined it all, but she caused that to happen. She was too young and too naïve to preform that spell, Cody knew that. But she was so confident, he just couldn't say no to her innocent face. He still placed the blame upon himself after all this time.

"If you two were together so often, how did we stumble upon Olivine?" Matthew innocently asked.

Cody's expression changed drastically. Loneliness, depression, self-loathe. All of his forgotten emotions flooded back into the missing piece that Olivine filled. That was one of the worst days of his life, he lost the one thing that held a purpose. The one thing that kept him on solid ground. He managed to gather himself with a somber smile to not worry his listeners.

"I'm sorry, it must be a sensitive subject," Matthew tried to hind behind Kumajirou.

"It's alright, Olivine needs to know anyway," he brushed the hair out of Olivine's face.

Cody swallowed his pride and began to explain the story to them.

~ That night ~

*Olivine's POV*

After Cody left, we spent most of the night tending to Alfred. He decided to go to bed early so one of us had to watch over him. Mattie volunteered since he felt the need to be a better brother. Papa and Daddy were still deciding if we should call off the Halloween party since Alfred is the one who hosts it every year. But when we asked him about it, he said, "We have to have this party! If I don't host it, who will? Only I can make a super awesome party that everyone comes to!"

So, the show must go on.

Due to my previous situation, I had to change back into my Chibi Form to save my energy. I really wanted to stay in my Teenage Form this time. I could've exploreed a lot more!

"Olivine," Daddy called me from his reading chair.

"Yes?" I cocked my head to the side.

"I have an idea about who we can go as," he searched through the photos on his phone.

"Who?" I climbed onto his legs and settled in his lap.

A few seconds later he revealed two characters from this show called "Doctor Who"

"I can be Tenth and you can be the Tardis. I also have most of the materials to make your costume," he was really excited to show me this.

"Wh-What's a Tardis? It l-looks like a b-blue police b-box..."

"It's the Doctor's spaceship; It's bigger on the inside. I'll get you into the show so don't worry about it."

The picture was of a blue, low strap dress with white window panes, a white note with words on it, and black squares on the lower half. The black sleeves hung around the shoulders and said "Police Box, Public Call" across the front. For the hair accessory, it seemed to be a matching blue headband with a little blue lantern on top. It was a very pretty dress, I'd love to wear that.

"C-Can I really w-wear that?" I asked with ambition.

"If you want. I'd love it if we went as a duo this year," he kissed my forehead.

"Let's do it! It'll be fun!"

"Angeleterre, are you trying to get everyone in zhis house to be a fan of Doctor Who? We all know zhat you 'ave an obsession," Papa placed a cup of tea on the coffee table.

"No, I just want someone to cosplay with me. No one in this house wants to..."

"Zhat's because you only want to cosplay as zhe Doctor."

"But he can travel through time and--"

He was stopped by Papa's kiss.

"Let's save the fanboy-ing for later, Angeleterre, we need to finish our costumes."

He sighed before placing me down on the floor. I stayed close to his side as I followed him to the dining room. On the table was different props, fabrics, and patterns for all kinds of designs. There was a sewing machine and a peddle was under the table to activate it.

"Are y-you making m-my dress?" I inquired.

"Of course, it's cheeper this way. Also, the others can admire my handiwork. Now, arms up," he placed a roll of measuring tape around my body.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Picture from the internet! Picture from the internet!

*breathes* I wrote in third person for the majority of the chapter! What an accomplishment :3

It's almost Christmas as I'm writing this. I need to catch up with the seasons. There will be another Christmas special by the way!

Remember to Comment & Vote my Luckies~!

BAI~! ☆〜（ゝ。∂）