"Eli?" Korey asked, gently shifting in his arms so he could look into his eyes.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Elias responded gently brushing a few strands of shaggy red hair out of Korey's eyes.

"Do you ever regret how things turned out?" Korey said as if he could tell exactly what he had been thinking moments before. 

"There are some things I regret, but I'd do everything all over again if it meant we get to be right here together in the end," Elias said gently running his thumb over Korey's cheek.

"You're too good to me." Korey pouted as Elias rolled his eyes.

"I probably am, however, we balance each other out quite well." Elias said, slumping into the couch further. 

They finally had some peaceful alone time together. Korey had been so worried about Rigby recently they hadn't had any time to just sit down and relax together. However he understood the situation perfectly, Rigby was a really introverted kid, he never had any real friends and spent all his time alone. Of course, his dad would be worried about him and his new boyfriend. 

"Did you order anything?" Korey asked as the screech of the old doorbell rang through the house.

"Not that I remember," Elias said as he quickly got up and went to the door. 

His house was in a secluded area, it was quite hard to find unless you knew the address and had a GPS. Nobody would just randomly stumble upon it, he made sure of that when he chose it. The person on that side of the door is purposely looking for him. 

"Please Eli, I know you have training but be careful!" Korey whispered as he cowered behind the doorway to the living room.

Elias gave him a reassuring nod as he picked up the baseball bat he kept in his umbrella stand, he hoped he still had good aim. It had been a few years since anyone had come after him. 

Elias threw open the door and raised the bat above his head ready to swing as Rigby screamed in terror and Alfred quickly grabbed the bat in the air. It was too dark outside to actually see their faces but he immediately recognized their voices and silhouettes.

"ITS JUST US MATTHEWS! WHAT THE HELL!" Alfred shouted, his words slightly slurred, as he pushed the bat back. "You'd think we were hitmen with that welcome."

"GOOD GOD YOU TWO! YOU SCARED THE HELL OUT OF US!" Elias scolded them as he quickly threw the bat to the side.

"W-w-we didn't know where else to go." Rigby sniffled still cowardly behind Alfred. 

"HOW DARE YOU ALMOST BEAT MY CHILD!" Korey shouted as he ran to the door and pulled Elias to the side to let the boys in.

"Don't even give me that Korey, we thought they were someone else," Elias said rolling his eyes as he ran a hand through his hair. 

He was definitely getting too old for this. His heart wasn't able to take much more of the adrenaline and fear. 

"A warning would be appreciated, next time boys." Elias huffed 

"Yeah a warning woulda been nice for us too." Alfred joked as he hid his face and quickly walked inside. 

"I-I-I'm fine dad it's Alf-" Rigby began as Alfred quickly cut him off. 

"It's nothing, just took a little tumble," Alfred stated firmly as Rigby gave him a heartbroken look.

"Let me see your face boy," Elias said as Alfred face away from all of them.

Something was definitely wrong, he had never seen either of them this shaken or roughed up before. 

Alfred slowly turned around without a fight and looked at them. His nose was swollen and red, the blood that had leaked from it now dried and brown. His bottom lip was swollen and busted up as well, his right eye slightly bruised but not black yet.

 

"Christ on a bike! look at the state o' you boy. I'll go get the first aid kit!" Korey gasped as he saw Alfred's face and ran off deeper into the house.

"As he's doing that, tell me what happened," Elias said as gently as he could as he led them to the kitchen and grabbed a damp washcloth.

"I... I told my parents that we were dating..." Alfred whispered as he gripped Rigby's hand.

Elias felt his old heart ache. He knew that pain all too well himself. No child should have to go through that pain, he wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy. 

"Go on son, it's alright," Elias said gently as he began to clean the blood off of Alfred's face.

"My dad obviously didn't take it well, I made my mother cry and then my father disowned me. I grabbed a few things and left." Alfred mumbled, gesturing to his beaten face as Korey walked into the kitchen with the first aid kit.

 "Don't worry kid, what butter and whiskey won't cure, there's no cure for," Korey said pulling a bottle of whiskey and a stick of butter out of the first aid kit.

"Did you replace my medical supplies with a bottle of whiskey and a stick of butter?" Elias sighed hanging his head.

"No, I replaced your bad supplies with the good stuff," Korey said in a huff as he poured a small shot of whiskey.

 "How did he keep you alive this long?" Elias asked Rigby as he opened a secret compartment with medical supplies inside.

"No idea." Rigby chuckled as Korey stared in awe at the secret cabinet.

"You didn't tell me you had that!" Korey said as he inspected the new forbidden place.

"Get out of there Kor, that stuff is for dire situations. Since you threw out all my medical supplies I need to use this stuff." Elias said shaking his head as he found what he needed. 

"Here drink this it'll help the pain," Korey said reluctantly listening to Elias and handing Alfred the shot of whiskey. 

"And you're not gonna stop this?" Alfred asked glancing over at Elias as he took the shot glass. 

"Usually I would but your nose is broken and I need to reset it, so in this case, you might wanna take that," Elias said giving him an apologetic look.

"seems reasonable." Alfred shrugged as he quickly downed the shot. 

Elias chuckled as little at Alfred's twisted and confused face as he downed the shot. It was painfully obvious that he had never taken a shot before. 

"Nice." Alfred choked out as he handed the glass back to Korey.

"Alright, son this is going to hurt like hell, bite down on this," Elias said shoving a rag into Alfred's mouth.

"Mait, mow mad mis mif munna murt?" Alfred mumbled against the rag.

"Hold him still the best you can Rigby," Elias said as Alfred gave him a confused look.

Elias waited till Rigby had a hold on Alfred then as quick as he could he snapped his nose back into place. Alfred let out a muffled, strangled, scream of agony and thrashed a little against Rigby's arms. 

"Easy son, the pain's gonna be a bit blinding but the worst is over now," Elias said comforting him as he cleaned up the rest of his wounds.

"Thank you, from both of us," Rigby said giving Elias a quick hug then letting him work.

"I'm gonna fucking die," Alfred mumbled as he slumped a little from the pain.

"Just tough through it kid, you'll be alright after some rest it's been a long night," Korey said as Rigby supported Alfred against him the best he could. 

"Are you sure your ok Redford?" Korey asked looking over at his son.

"Just a little shaken," Rigby said sadly. "A-Alfred made sure nothing happened to me, he was ready to lay down his life for mine." 

"AND I'D DO IT AGAIN A MILLION TIMES!" Alfred shouted as Elias pat his shoulder and tried to get him to sit back in the chair.

"Well, at least I know you caught yourself a good one Redford." Korey smiled.

"Where is he supposed to go now though? Can he stay with us?" Rigby asked as he stared lovingly at Alfred.

"He'll stay with me," Elias said firmly leaving no room for discussion, as Korey and Rigby both gave him shocked looks. "I have more than enough room here and there's no need to cram more people into your small apartment." 

"I-I'm staying with him the first few nights," Rigby said firmly as he stood his ground.

"Yeah, we're staying with him tonight!" Alfred slurred drunk off of the pain and shot of whiskey.

"Shh Beanie bear, let me handle it this time," Rigby said placing a gentle kiss on Alfred's forehead.

"mkay, love," Alfred murmured as Elias finished cleaning his wounds and somewhat bandaging him up.

"We'll talk more tomorrow, but for now we've all had a really long night." Elias sighed, he was too tired for this.

Elias helped Alfred stand up and took him and Rigby to the extra bedroom he had set up. 

"Thank you for helping even though you didn't have to." Rigby said as he helped Alfred sit on the edge of the bed.

"It's not that I didn't have to, it's that I always will help you two no matter what." Elias said with a smile as he left them to sleep.

"You'd be such a good dad." Korey said as Elias walked back into the kitchen.

"Were not adopting a kid." Elias sighed as he colapsed into one of the chairs.

"We'll talk about that later, but for now why don't we get some sleep. you look exauhsted handsome." Korey said as he gently rubbed Elias's shoulders.

"That sounds heavenliy." Elias chuckled as he scooped Korey up and took him to his room.

It had been a long night for all of them. He was glad it was finally coming to a close, and it would be finished off with him getting to fall asleep in his lovers arms. As he had said before, this really was all worth it, every little bit.