"Eden's parents can't find him," Alexander said in the first few seconds he got into Tadashi's house. "And neither can I."

It took approximately five seconds for him to look at Tadashi and assess him, eyes finally resting on his. "What are you so dressed for? Where are you going?" He asked.

Tadashi closed the duffel bag before him and then straightened to regard Alexander.

He could either decide that he was going to keep hiding the truth from Alexander or he could decide that this was the moment he told him the truth.

Lily decided for him.

"To get Mikky and Eden," she said. "Who are you?"

This time, Alexander's gaze did not fleet away from Tadashi. He was quiet for a little while, if it was betrayal he felt, he did not show it. In fact, the way that he masked anything he might have been feeling was a bit scary to Tadashi.

"Where are they?"  Alexander asked calmly.

"Alex–" Tadashi started but was cut off.

"Just tell me where they are, Tadashi," he replied, a little impatiently.

"Here, apparently," Tadashi gave in and shared the address with Alexander.

He examined the piece of paper that had been forwarded to him before looking back at Tadashi again.

"Mikky... Mikhail? Linder's little brother yes?" Asked Alexander. Tadashi nodded.

Alexander turned to Lily. "Then you must be his little sister," he told her.

"How do you know Lin?" She asked looking angrily up at Alexander.

He was amused as it caused his own lips to twitch up in a smile. "She's so cute," he said.

"She also bites," Lily said promisingly. "So answer my question."

"Ouu, nice. But I won't do that. I'd rather your brother tells you," Alexander then turned to Tadashi. "Where is he?"

His smile dropped as he realized the stony look on Tadashi's face. "He's with Eden too?"

Tadashi shook his head. "Maybe... I don't know where he is."

"You don't..." Alexander trailed off. "Are you okay?"

Tadashi shrugged. "I've got a plan, but we need to leave now."

•••

It was an abandoned building at the end of a few dilapidated ones on its right.

How anyone, including Carl, could get inside without anyone noticing was easy to understand. It was a tall, three storied building that was locked and bolted at all entrances, the windows were all covered up, making it impossible to even see inside.

Alexander had driven with Lily after having a heated argument about whether to bring her or not. Tadashi was in his own car, briefing his men about the plan he had in mind.

Alexander didn't even know that Tadashi had men, but when he'd asked, he simply said he'd just pulled in a favor from someone he didn't know.

Alexander unlocked his door and got out, and when Lily moved to do the same, she found out that it was locked. She looked at Alexander through the window with murder in her eyes.

"The deal was to bring you along," he said. "Not string you into the heart of danger."

Lily looked like if she had a gun, she wouldn't hesitate to shoot Alexander's foot. "Let me out!" She demanded.

"Not a chance, puffball," he replied before motioning to one of the men to come watch over her.

"Alexander!" Lily growled, even though it came out muffled. He ignored her and headed over to Tadashi.

They decided to get in through the back door. Once the chain was broken, the armed men got in first, then Tadashi and Alexander.

When they got in, it was too quiet for their liking. Not a sound and not a soul in sight... it was completely abandoned.

Tadashi's spirits started to dampen even if he knew he'd turn the entire building upside down first before accepting that there wasn't anyone here. Had something happened to Linder?

Everything was actually in it's place, it was dark and dusty, like no one had been inside for several months.

After moving for a while, with nothing but the soft echo of their own footsteps, at the corner of his eye, Alexander saw something move... someone.

He turned in a split second, only to find out that the jittery movements belonged to Lily. How the hell had she left the car?

She was being careful, as if not to let herself be caught by Alexander or Tadashi.

Alexander crept up behind her in the same fashion she was being discreet and hoisted her up into his arms. And then, they began to fight each other.

"How is it that you are here?!" Alexander whisper-yelled as he dodged Lily's slaps and punches.

"That is none of your business, you goofball!" she whisper-yelled back. Then she drove her knee into his gut.

"Stop fighting!" said an irritated Alexander.

"Then put me down," she countered.

"Lily," said Tadashi calmly, and the girl stopped. "He's only looking out for you, he just wants you safe so stay still okay?"

She didn't show any sign of agreement but much to Alexander's surprise, she listened and stopped fighting him.

He couldn't really wrap his head around it. She didn't seem like the type to listen to anyone.

Tadashi had only left them alone for close to three minutes when they began to fight again. The man sighed before walking back in their direction, ready to take Lily away from Alexander.

In the middle of all their arguing is when they heard a croak of a voice.

"Hello?" The voice was a little broken. "I can hear you. If... if you are there, we need some water. The child...please."

Tadashi stopped whatever he was doing and rushed to the direction of the voice upstairs. "...just for the child," it continued.

"Eden!" Tadashi shouted at the same time the door was pounded from the inside, so his voice was most likely drowned out.

The voice did not come from the first door he tried, nor was it the second. And even after pondering upon all the doors, he found nothing.

Then he realized that the voice was still coming from the other rooms up the stairs.

When Tadashi got to the fourth door, he was really desperate. But there was Eden when he pulled the door open.

"Wa...ter-" his voice died down when their eyes met. 

In a few seconds, Eden snapped out of it and recognition registered in his eyes. He seemed to draw in a rugged breath.

His green eyes welled up with tears and before he knew it, he was pulled hard against Tadashi's chest.

For the moment, he tried to put aside the state the man was in and just felt his body against him. If Linder wasn't still missing, it would feel like heaven.

It felt good to finally have him like this, this close and finally away from danger.

Alexander watched them as he approached. From the way Eden buried his face in Tadashi's chest to the way Tadashi wrapped a hand around him, with the other at the back of his head.

What did Tadashi mean to Eden? He wondered. Better yet, what did Eden mean to Tadashi?

When he got to them, they stopped embracing and Tadashi quickly entered the room. Alexander cupped both of Eden's cheeks and searched his face. "Are you hurt?"

Eden shook his head no, but Alexander couldn't help but worry. He took his face in, a few bruises, the darkest one close to his lip. His hair almost looked like a disheveled bird's nest. He looked more tired than anything.

Alexander's jaw ticked and he tried to reign in his anger. He hugged Eden and thought about how slowly he wanted to torture who ever had done this.

If only he'd get his hands on them...

When Tadashi got in, Mikhail was in one corner of the room, looking at nothing in particular. He looked lost.

Tadashi approached and lifted him. "Hey honey," he smoothed his hair and kissed his temple hard, pouring all his relief into it and the boy flinched.

"I'm sorry," he quickly soothed, slowly running his hand up and down his back.

Lily was there in the next few seconds, Tadashi put Mikhail down and she grabbed him immediately, hugging him fiercely.

Tadashi couldn't still move on from Mikhail's demeanor. Something was terribly wrong, but above everything, he wanted to get Carl in his hands.

"The entire house is clear, there's no one here," one of Tadashi's men said as he circled back to them.

Tadashi nodded before turning back to Lily. "Let's get you guys back home."

Eden then took his wrist in his hand and looked up. "Linder... I think he's gone."

He did have a feeling that something like that would happen. He didn't expect Carl to so easily just give Linder up, from everything he had gathered. And the way he had let them all go, just made him wonder how Linder had convinced him.

But the way Eden said it, still made him question everything.

"What happened?" Asked Tadashi.

Eden shook his head then pursed his lips momentarily. "It's... the way he spoke to me. He said the strangest things. To take care of his siblings," Eden shook his head again. "It didn't feel right."

It was then that Tadashi started to feel the stress weighing down on his shoulders.

"When was this?" He asked Eden.

"Almost two days now, I think," Eden replied, voice a little hoarse. "I don't know."

They needed to get home, somewhere safe. They needed to get some food and water into their system. He would trust Alexander to make that happen.

Before Tadashi could take a step, Alexander took his arm.

"Take them home," said Tadashi.

He didn't move, but made to protest. It only came naturally; the stubbornness in his nature.

"Now, Alexander."

"This is dangerous," he began.

"Which is why I'm going alone," said Tadashi.

"No," both Alexander and Lily said at the same time. Lily's face was expressionless where Alexander's looked troubled.

"I'll be fine," said Tadashi. "I'm not going alone."

Even saying that wasn't convincing enough. It took a lot of fighting and arguing until Tadashi got the upper hand. He was dead set on going alone and no one was going to stop him.

Eden rushed to his side and hugged him for the longest time, before letting him go. "You be careful, okay?"

Tadashi nodded. "Don't worry, I will."

Right before Eden could completely break contact with him, he pulled him back and brushed his lips against his knuckles. Then he hugged him one last time.

No one saw it, but Alexander's brow went up.

Tadashi noticed how hard Lily tried not to look in his direction. She held Mikhail with a hand as the other curled into a tight ball by her side.

Tadashi smiled. "Lily," he called and she quickly turned to him. "Take care of your brother till I'm back okay?"

She turned back and deliberately refused to look at him. "I know," she muttered.

Alexander looked outright angry. He didn't say a word to Tadashi and neither did the other man.

Whatever silent battle they were having between them, wasn't voiced. Even until they parted ways.

•••

Eden couldn't help but take in a deep breath of fresh air. He squinted his eyes until they adjusted to the light outside.

He missed Mikhail's hand in his. And he had no idea how to approach the little boy again. It seemed best to leave him in Lily's hands where he actually seemed just a little more responsive.

Eden sat in the passenger seat while Lily and Mikhail were at the back. Alexander took the wheel.

He watched him clench and unclench his jaw, still distracted by whatever was going on with him and Tadashi. Eden chose not to comment on it.

"Apparently, Tadashi wants me to take you guys home," said Alexander.

"I'd rather not," Eden quickly replied. "He's not there and–"

"I'm not taking you to Tadashi's. I'm thinking of either your parents', or mine. You know it's your home too right?" He asked.

"I know..." said Eden. "My parents would fret too much. Lets go to yours."

"Funny that you think my babies won't fret too much," said Alexander.

"How come we don't have a say in this?" Asked Lily.

"This is adult stuff, Lily," said Alexander immediately.

In the next few seconds, she smacked his head so hard he accidentally braked.

"This is adult stuff Lily," she mimicked then crossed her hands while looking out the window.

"Jesus Christ are you done trying to kill us all?" Exclaimed Alexander.

"No, just you," she said pretty confidently.

Amidst the dejected atmosphere in the car, they kept on arguing lightheartedly.

Lily was thinking about Linder. Alexander was thinking about Tadashi. And Eden was thinking about them both. But even with his inner turmoil, he found it in him to smile.

He wouldn't be smiling much later on, for Mikhail's sake. He'd be confused, and he'd blame himself for everything.

Because it had slipped his mind that where he had decided they go, was a replica of Carl; Jet.