Orphanage!

*~* Middle of summer just after lunch at the orphanage, which is a three story building, the bedroom taking up the third floor, play rooms and the classroom on the second, with the dining room and living room on the first floor. Out back is a large fenced in backyard, the back half being a hill with bushes and small trees all over it, and a swingset/fort down where the ground is level. *~*

Matthew was sitting on one of the swings outside, his beloved stuffed polar bear clutched in his arms. He wasn't swinging at all, just sat there with his legs dangling.

Arthur was up on the hill, sitting beneath a large bush. Next to him was a rabbit hole, and a white fluffy rabbit with black ears, nose, and tail was sitting on his lap. Arthur smiled softly, gently petting the rabbit.

Francis smiled and walked up to the smaller boy. "Bonjour, Matthew!" he said, saying the younger boy's name with a slight French accent.

"Hey Arthur! Where ya at?" Alfred shouted, wandering around aimlessly, trying to find his friend.

Matthew looked up at Francis with a soft shy smile, clutching Kumajirou close to his chest. "B-Bonjour..." He said softly.

Arthur looked around when he heard his name. "Go back to hiding, I'll be back soon." Arthur said, setting the rabbit back in the rabbit hole before crawling out of the bush, dusting himself off.

"How are you?" Francis said, kneeling down next to the boy and still smiling.

Alfred stared curiously at Arthur, watching him crawl out from underneath the bush. "Why were you under there...?" He asked with a puzzled expression.

"Good." Matthew said softly, resting his chin on Kumajirou,

"Exploring, but there's nothing there." Arthur replied simply with a light smile.

"What are you doing on the swing, but not swinging?" Francis asked.

Alfred nodded. "That sounds like fun! I like climbing trees better though." He replied, grinning.

Matthew shrugged lightly. "I like sitting on them..." He replied.

Arthur nodded. "Yeah, climbing trees is fun, but a lot of fairies like to live under the bushes." Arthur replied.

"Oh, well do you want me to push you?" Francis asked gently with a smile.

Blinking in confusion, Alfred tilted his head to the side and stared at Arthur in disbelief. "Wait... fairies? Those things aren't real..." He stated trying to figure out whether or not the other boy was just messing with him.

Matthew shook his head lightly. "Non." He replied.

Arthur pouted. "They are real. I see them all the time." He said.

Francis nodded. "Okay." he said, sitting on the swing next to him and gently swaying to and fro.

"Ummm... alright..." Alfred said, figuring it would be best not to argue.

Matthew fell silent, holding Kumajirou close as he lightly swung his legs back and forth, watching Francis swing.

Arthur sighed softly. He could tell Alfred didn't believe him. "Anyway, what did you want me for?"

Francis looked over at Matthew. "Are you okay?"

Alfred scratched his head, trying to figure out why he was looking for Arthur. "Oh yeah!" He said after a few moments, remembering what it was. "I wanted to play kickball or something."

Matthew nodded with a soft smile. "Oui." He replied.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "You need more than two people to play kickball, you know."

"Okay, you seemed down." Francis smiled.

"Yeah I know, but I know where to find Mattie and I'm sure he'll play, as well as Frenchie!" Alfred replied with bright smile.

Matthew shook his head. "I'm not down."

Arthur chuckled. "That's still only four. Kickball needs a lot more than that."

"Okay." Francis said with a smile, continuing to swing.

"Well then we can play something else! There's gotta be something the four of us can play!" Alfred suggested, feeling rather bored.

Matthew smiled softly, swinging his legs back and forth a bit harder to start the swing moving.

Arthur shrugged. "I don't know. I'd say tag, but that'd be entirely unfair to Mattie." Arthur said.