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_ Part 4 _

Following in the trend of most other weeks, Sunday flashed on by in the blink of an eye. This time however, bucking his own trend of relaxing on his day off, Erik had spent a good portion of it trying to make his home as Polcian-friendly as possible. That included simple gestures such as leaving doors ajar, to far more elaborate undertakings like organising books, small boxes and other flat objects into a set of small steps upon the staircase. While nothing could make the house completely open to Polcian movement, measures like these could at least go some way towards it.

Despite everything he'd done since his guests' arrival here, it took until dinner that evening for Erik to realise something he'd somehow previously overlooked.

'Me and Pieter work on different days, on different shifts... If I can't take him, how will he get there and back!?'

"It'll be fine, Erik. We'll work something out."

He finished tying the laces of his well-polished, black work shoes, sitting himself upright at the edge of his bed. Monday's first light shone through the window behind him, creeping to cast the entire room in its glow. This included Pieter, the only member of his family yet to leave their sleeping area.

"Travelling to work takes forty-five minutes door to door," Erik grumbled. "It's not a short trip."

"I know that." Pieter stood up from his makeshift, double-sized bed, donning only a white t-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts. "Perhaps on days I'm working and you're not, we can organise something similar to what we're now doing with the kids. That seemed to go okay this morning, right?"

"I suppose." Erik glanced at his alarm clock, finding the time to be a few minutes after eight. "My mother will be back with Karin soon. You can find out for sure then."

Pieter slipped on a pair of trousers, huffing with a look back to his host. "Thanks for reassuring me."

"Okay, okay... Of course, I'm sure it went fine."

"Listen, if it'll help you to feel better, let's talk about what you think we should do."

Erik peered down at him, rubbing two fingers between forehead and temple. "I wanted to see if there was any way for us to bring our schedules into line."

Pieter's brow rose at the suggestion. "You think that would be possible?"

"You don't?"

"It... might. It depends on how much of a change we need to make. The big one would be the day we have free in the week."

"Right." Erik rose to his feet, fixing the collar of his dark green shirt. "I was going to ask my boss about that today. See if I can work Wednesdays instead of Mondays, like you."

Pieter moved to stand upon the rim of the cardboard box room, craning his neck further in response to Erik's gaining of height. "I'll be keeping my fingers crossed."

"You think you can speak with your boss? Maybe you can start and finish a couple of hours later Fridays. That's the only other main difference."

He flashed a grin from the ground below. "If you're willing to try, it's only fair I do, too."

"Great." Erik crouched down, bringing himself back towards Pieter's level. "Other than that, the differences aren't such a big deal I suppose. Plus... I think I'd enjoy having my two days off together each week."

"I suggest fantasising over this after you get it agreed. Until then, if you don't leave now, you're going to be late."

"Yes, Dad."

Pieter scoffed out a laugh, watching Erik return to his full stature. "As someone just about old enough to be your father, I think it should allow me to act as if I am from time to time."

"I don't even see how that could be true--"

"Go to work!"

Erik burst out with his own spell of choked laughter, shaking his head as he trotted the handful of paces to the open bedroom door. "Okay. My mother will be back soon to prepare some food for breakfast and lunch for while we are away." He glanced back to the television set atop the drawers at the end of his bed. "The remote to the TV is on the floor, if you want to watch. Hopefully you and Karin can avoid boredom here alone this morning."

"I think we'll be fine... Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Now, go to work."

Monday mornings at work meant, as the name might suggest, Monday morning stock deliveries. These brought with them the enjoyment of coping with a noisy cavalcade of trucks, vying for position at the overloaded warehouse entrance. It always created a manic start to the week, but also made Ivan and the rest of the departmental supervisors easy to find.

"Hey, Andrei!" Erik could hear his characteristically pinched voice as he approached the hive of activity at the loading bay. "Are you serious?"

One of the depot workers, a copper-furred lynx, peered down from the back of the truck being unloaded. "What, Ivan?"

He finally spotted the diminutive wolverine, standing on the warehouse floor between two far taller fellow supervisors: a tiger and a boar. "You are pulling the smallest pallet in there. Hardly _any_big boxes on that."

"I grabbed the one closest to me." The worker let go of his pump truck, throwing up his arms with an outraged grin. "They all need to be delivered here. What does it matter which I unload first?"

"What are you, a Polcian!?" Ivan's snickered outburst set Erik's footsteps wavering and his muzzle twisting with distaste. "Is that all you can carry? Show some strength, be a Velikan!"

"Whatever." The lynx batted a paw at the air dismissively. "Perhaps you wish to come up and unload yourself?"

"As if."

"Thought not."

The end of that exchange set Erik on edge, only adding to his fast-growing unease. Regardless, he'd not get much of an opportunity to dwell on it.

"Hey, Erik?" He looked up from his emotions, spotting Ivan pacing away from the truck and towards him. "Why are you not out stacking shelves."

It took an concerted effort not to roll his eyes. 'If I had a penny for every time he asked that...'

"Well? You need to talk?"

He quickly jumped back from his internalising. "I... Yes, actually. I do."

Erik gave a hurried run down of his proposal, outlining his desire to switch his midweek day off from Wednesday to Monday instead. Typically, the confidence with which he made the suggestion to Pieter back at home vanished once in front of his supervisor.

"S-So... that's it. I'd like to change."

Ivan grimaced at the proposal put forward. "Why now? You have done this schedule for weeks without problem."

"I know." Erik glanced aimlessly around the dank, dreary warehouse, stalling for time as he thought up a proper response. "But now... I need to be free Mondays... to help with things that have happened at home."

Ivan's pointed ears sprang up. "Oh?"

"Yeah... sorry, I would rather not go into details, but..." He let the pause stretch to become a silence, hoping inside for his vague, almost flimsy explanation to be enough.

"I see," the stocky wolverine grumbled, folding his arms. "We must find someone willing to switch shifts with you... but I think it should be okay."

"It will?" The surprise almost knocked Erik off his feet.

Ivan nodded stiffly. "The higher ups will need to clear, but yes."

"Thank--"

"Tell me, when do you need this to start?"

"I..." The awkwardness returned in spades. "T-This week? If possible?"

"_This_week!? Are you trying to make things difficult, with such short notice?"

"I-I'm sorry. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. I really--"

"Okay, okay." Ivan huffed hard enough to make his condensed frame rock. "Look, we will need to get it cleared with management... If they say okay, then you can start this new schedule this week."

"Thank you very much, Ivan!--"

"But, do not think you are going home now. Come to work this Wednesday and then starting next week, Monday will be your new day off. For now, go get to work. The shelves will not stack themselves."

"Okay... Thanks, Ivan," Erik muttered with far less enthusiasm. He couldn't stop from rolling his eyes this time round, but managed to hold out until he'd turned away at least. 'That would be _two_pennies today.'

"Hey, Erik!"

He peered across the warehouse floor to find Viktor lurching towards him, those tall, swaying antlers far from missable.

"What was that about?"

"That? I was just speaking with Ivan about my schedule."

"Oh?" Viktor met him halfway, stopping close to where the lines of stock-filled racking started. "How come?"

Erik gave him a review of their conversation, earning a dramatic grumble at its conclusion.

"So now you will get to have your days off together? Talk about favouritism!"

"Don't moan! You're free to ask him for the same."

"Perhaps... but I am thinking the chance of him saying yes twice is slim to nothing." Viktor smirked down with snort. "Besides, with how much you whine for your tired legs, the long rest each week will do you good."

"Whatever!"

They started off away from the delivery area together, venturing into the forest of products waiting to be carted out onto the shop floor.

"So," Viktor's rumbled. "For what reason have you asked for this change?"

Erik knew that question would come again eventually, but still he couldn't decide whether to be truthful with his explanation or not. He figured he could trust the big elk, as much as anyone else he worked here with at least. Still, keeping things nice and mundane would probably prove a lot easier. It certainly wouldn't attract as many follow up questions as the truth anyhow.

"Erik?"

"Yeah," he gasped, snapping back into conversation. "There's just a few things going on right now, at home... It's easier if I can work this way."

"I see." They stopped at the first batch of stock carts filled with grocery products, Viktor's large hand snatching the handle of one with a loud clank. "I hope these 'things' are not problems?"

Erik smiled, both warmed by and a little guilty over the show of concern. "No, it's nothing bad... I just have to help out more at home now, so it's just best for me to work these new hours. Thanks for asking, though."

"No problem." Viktor lugged the cart from its bay, keeping his focus on Erik. "How about that beer after work, since you could not last time?"

"I'd love it... but I can't."

"What!?" He threw his free hand to his hip. "Are you teetotal now or something?"

"No," Erik scoffed, grabbing a cart of his own to follow. "It's just... today is one of those days that I need to help."

"Okay... That is fair, I am thinking." Viktor peered down the corridor of waiting stock, watching their fellow shelf stackers tugging cage after cage across the warehouse. "Come, Erik. Let us begin another_great_ week of work here."

That week ahead would pass agonisingly slowly, filled with the same monotonous tasks that characterised the weeks preceding it. Each of the six solid days of work drained him wholly, leaving Saturday evening to be welcomed like a gift from the gods upon its long-awaited arrival.

"I'm so glad that's over," Pieter murmured from his pouch in Erik's backpack. "I never thought it'd end."

"You read my mind," he replied, striding achingly past a small snowdrift at the train station's entrance. "This weather doesn't help either. It'll be good to get home and into the warm."

"That's one advantage of riding in here."

"Hey." Erik stopped, checking both ways before starting across a snow-dusted sidestreet of his neighbourhood. "Don't rub it in."

"Sorry," came the snickered response. "At least you won't have to do this six-day week again. Next week, we'll be working the same times."

"Absolutely." In defiance of his painful limbs, he practically skipped up onto the opposite kerb at the thought of that. "Honestly, even if some people have made fun of it, the chance to have two days off to enjoy and to rest up is something I cannot wait for."

The walk home through these ice-blasted backstreets lasted barely five minutes, allowing Erik to escape any notable discomfort from the subzero conditions. Walking through the front door, the radiant warmth plastered a smile on his face as it struck, as did the aroma of seasoned fish wafting through the hallway from up ahead.

"We're home," he called, shutting out the cold behind him and unzipping his jacket.

"Hello, dear," his mother replied in their native tongue, switching to Polcian to continue as he entered the kitchen. "Good day?"

"It is now." He carefully slipped his bag from his shoulder and placed it on the floor. "You?"

"Day was okay, thank you." Erik watched his mother dice some onions for the fish steaks being fried in the pan atop the stove, noticing Karin stood there on the counter beside her. She clasped a tiny blade in her paw, using it to help with the meal prep just like she had done in the last few days.

"Glad to hear it." He bent down to open the pouch containing Pieter, slipping a paw inside to help lift him out.

"Thanks, Erik."

"No problem."

With Pieter secure in paw, Erik padded over to set him down atop the kitchen worktop next to his wife. Leaving them to share a kiss and start up a conversation, he removed his jacket and walked back to the dining table. There, Thijs and Anika sat upon the makeshift sofa he'd created a few nights ago, watching the portable television set up at the edge of the table.

"Hey, Erik!" Thijs squealed, leaping up off of the two-tall stack of books and old woolen hat comprising his seat.

"Hi there. How was your--"

The young ferret launched himself at Erik's paw, grabbing one of his fingers tight. "Wanna play?"

"I--"

"C'mon!"

Thijs' excitement by no means came as a shock, given the number of times he'd begged him to play over the past week. Still, Erik couldn't stop from grinning, happy that his smallest guest, who'd been so frightened and nervous when they first met, had settled so readily here.

"I'd say yes, Erik," Pieter called, looking over from the worktop with a wry smile. "You know he won't give in until you do."

"You're so annoying sometimes."

Erik turned in response to Anika's muffled groaning, her eyes locked accusingly upon her brother.

"Nuh-uh!" Thijs scowled back. "Am not!"

"Yeah, you are."

"Shush!"

"Anika!" their mother called, holding a clove of garlic in place atop the chopping board she stood beside. "Leave your brother alone. You know he's been waiting since you got home from school."

"Children, all alike," Tanya chuckled, watching Karin carefully chop the garlic into almost impossibly fine slices. "Erik... Yuri... they were same at that age." Suddenly, as if a switch had flicked, her happy expression became one of regret.

Karin stopped her knife work, glancing up with a sorrowful frown. Erik had seen his mother like this all too often lately; looking beyond recent hardships to mourn the distant past. He never knew what to say or what to do, other than to offer reassurances that everything would turn out okay, even if he doubted it himself.

Erik opened his mouth to make his latest attempt, but stopped at the sight of Karin pacing towards the counter's edge. She reached out to pat Tanya's spotted paw, raising her own spirits to offer a silent, knowing smile. To Erik's amazement, that simple gesture succeeded in drawing from his mother a faint glimmer of happiness, followed by a gentle nod before they resumed their cooking.

"Hey." Pieter waved a paw in the air. "Could you help me over there to the table, please?"

"What?" Erik shook out the haze from his head, taking a second attempt to process the request. "Oh... sure." Climbing to his feet, he padded the few short steps over to the counter.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Gathering Pieter up in his paws, Erik leaned down to let his muzzle hover above his passenger's ears. "My mother and Karin, they are so good for each other," he whispered, starting back over to his chair. "I haven't seen Ma as happy as this for months. Not since... my brother..."

"I agree," Pieter replied, gripping the palm pads beneath him as Erik sat back down. "Times have been difficult for both of them, but... I know Karin enjoys helping your mother, contributing. She would be very unhappy if she couldn't offer some sort of purpose around here."

"It works for me." Erik set his paws upon the table, tipping them to allow his guest to step off from his fingers. "If they wish to do this much cooking together, it saves me from having to do it!" He let out a short burst of laughter, prompting both his mother and Karin to fire a bemused glare his way. "But, to be serious, she doesn't have to, you know? There is no need for her to work while she is here."

"I do, and Karin does, too." Pieter beamed up at him, giving the hint of a shrug. "It's just her way. Be it working a job, taking care of the kids, or just having duties around the house: she _needs_to have what she feels is a purpose--"

"Come on, Erik!"

The pattering of Thijs' dashing feet hauled Erik's attention from the conversation. He flinched at the arms grabbing his finger, while the tickle of tiny, gnawing teeth won from him another round of snickered laughter.

"Oh my gods, you two!" Anika huffed, keeping her back to them while still watching the television.

Thijs pulled himself up, using Erik's hovering paw as a makeshift climbing frame. "Ya just jealous!"

"As if."

Erik wiggled his fingers slowly, giving the youngster an added challenge in his playing.

"Hey!" Thijs squeaked indignantly, jumping from index to middle finger.

"What?" He flexed again. "I've done nothing."

"Jerk!"

They continued playing for a solid minute, enough time for Thijs to start panting as he hopped and skipped around without rest. Erik, too, kept up his efforts, at least until he caught Anika casting another quick glare from the makeshift seating nearby.

"Hey," the littlest ferret squeaked, head darting about in confusion over being lowered to the tabletop. "Why'd ya stop?"

Erik's cheery smile vanished. "I... just."

"What did I do wrong?"

His jaw dropped from the hurt in those words. "No, no... you did nothing." He looked to Anika again, her focus back upon the television. "I think... maybe..."

"I think Erik wants a moment of peace before dinner." Pieter walked over to ruffle his son's head fur. "Maybe he'll want to play more later."

"Right." Erik brightened a little, enough at least to regain his smile. That in turn helped encourage Thijs' rounded ears to perk back up.

"Ya promise?"

"Promise." He poked the youngster's belly, drawing a giddy, cheerful squeal. "We'll play more this evening."

"Great!"

With dinner prepared, served and eaten, the time came to move into the living room and watch television on the main set; an activity everyone in the house could enjoy regardless of size. Erik decided not to join them. Instead, he stayed behind to clean the pots and pans. A fair compromise considering he'd escaped cooking duty that evening.

He'd not be alone, though. Pieter, in an apparent gesture of sympathy, also remained to watch on from atop the counter. Erik appreciated that, but for reasons other than cleaning support.

"Piet, can I ask something?"

"Of course."

"I've been thinking." He set down the dish scrubber and turned towards him. "I... don't think that Anika likes me very much."

Pieter peered upwards, frowning. "That's not so."

"Really?" Erik retorted, eyebrows raised. "Because it certainly feels that way sometimes."

"Erik, you have to understand." He sighed loudly and held up his paws. "Anika, she's a very serious person. It can be so difficult to get through to here, even for me and her mother. Believe me when I say that once you do get past that hard shell of hers, you will see that she's just your typical fifteen-year old girl."

"Hopefully I can get past." Erik focused back on the cluttered sink, wringing his paws in quiet contemplation. "Still... I feel bad."

"If you don't mind me saying," Pieter stated bluntly. "You're taking it much harder than you should."

"You think so?"

"Yes. I do. Anika... she's had a very difficult time in particular since we came here last year. After all, she was the one most against the idea of moving from Weidekerk in the first place, of leaving her friends behind. So, with all that has happened to us in recent times on top, this will likely be a big reason why she is so... moody." Erik stayed quiet, eyes still fixed upon the mess of dishes before him. "Did you have something else on your mind?"

Truthfully, he did. The catalyst for his own mood this evening had seldom strayed far from the front of his thinking, urging him to open up and share. "Her attitude tonight, and since you've all arrived, isn't the only reason for my feelings."

"Oh?" Pieter took a couple of steps forward, head cocked to one side.

"You see... I've helped to cause Polcians... problems before."

He scratched his chin, gaze intensifying to become a thoughtful stare. "I see."

"Please know that I've never wanted to, honestly, but... others have forced me to go along." Erik gulped hard, pulling his shirt collar loose as he forced the guilt down. The stillness that followed almost stopped his heart. He wondered whether Pieter could be understanding over the small insight he'd offered, or if his guest would instead press further, demanding an explanation.

"Well... I don't know enough to judge or to make comment, but... I can believe you when you say that others had been involved."

"Y-You can?"

"Yes." Pieter glanced about the countertop, searching out for an explanation of his own. "Okay, it has been only a week since we met, but... with all that you've done for me and my family, I simply struggle to believe you would choose to cause a person harm freely."

Erik lit up with the start of a smile. "Still, I feel like... This is why I have tried so hard to be nice to every Polcian I meet, to have them like me and not fear my presence."

"Erik... Not fearing you, that's possible... but for everyone to _like_you? This is a noble thought, but something that's impossible for anyone: Polcian or Velikan."

"I guess." He looked down to Pieter with a gentle nod, somewhat reassured.

"Tell me, though... what happened?"

Erik studied him over, battling to gather the courage he needed to offer further insight into his past. Sure, Pieter had accepted some hazy, non-descript transgression from days gone by, but would he be willing to keep his family here after knowing the full story behind it?

"Erik, he just could not wait." He glanced back over his shoulder, watching his mother stroll through the kitchen doorway. She held little Thijs In cupped paws, taking care not to drop the bouncing brown ball of excitable fur. "He wishes so very much to play."

"It's later now!" the young ferret cried, leaping from spotted, white-furred paws the moment they touched down to the countertop.

"I guess it is."

He charged past his father, running full pelt to wrap himself around Erik's index finger. "Gotcha!"

Thijs' strength came as a surprise considering he stood a shade shorter than the digit in his hold. In that instant, Erik wondered if Polcians possessed more strength than he'd previously imagined. Either that, or Thijs' obvious joy helped him to squeeze that little bit harder.

His eyes wandered to find Pieter still standing there, watching on. Thoughts returned to their previous conversation, but now, with Thijs within earshot, he couldn't bear to delve any deeper into his history. "I'll explain another time."

"Explain what?" came the squeaking from behind his finger. "Dad? Whacha talkin' about?"

"Nothing, Thijs." Pieter smiled, offering Erik a quiet nod. "Just a small conversation we were having."

That proved enough to satisfy the youngster's curiosity. The increasingly familiar gnawing of teeth started upon Erik's fingerpad, setting him smirking at the tingling sensation it drew.

"Erik, I'll ask you to lower me to the floor in a moment so I can join the others and leave you two to your playing." With a widening smile, Pieter moved to stand beside his wrist. "But first, I wanted to speak to you about rent."

"Rent!?"

"While I can only offer a small amount... I feel as if I should at least contribute--"

"Wait, Piet." Erik rubbed at his brow, trying not to show his shock for fear it'd be mistaken for ungratefulness. "I appreciate you considering this... but..."

"But?"

"You're_saving_." He took a moment to temper his voice, keeping it low in the hope that Thijs wouldn't hear too much of their conversation. "You're trying to get enough money together to get out of this situation and return home. I can't take your offer, not when you were basically homeless a week ago."

"But we're not homeless now." Pieter matched Erik's murmured tone, leaning up towards his muzzle with a grin. "Listen. You insisted to me that we should come here and stay with you. Now, it's my turn to insist that you accept _my_suggestion. Besides, I couldn't take advantage of your kindness without at least a small offer in return."

Erik growled throatily, swift in the realisation that unlike that evening back in the alley, there'd be no way to convince him into a change of heart. "I suppose... We can always use the extra money."

"C'mon, when are we gonna play s'more?"

He laughed gently at Thijs' impatience, batting his slender tail with a finger while still focused on Pieter. "Also... to be honest, I'm hoping that I can one day follow my friend, Alex, over to Bolstrovo."

"Move to another country, really?"

"Yeah. I really want to work with him again, but also, I want to move to a place that's... different from Velika." Erik could feel his shoulders drooping as he prepared to continue. "This wouldn't be for a while. Forgetting about the cost, it would need to wait until he's more settled there, and my mother has a job which she can support herself with here."

"Then it's settled," Pieter reacted cheerfully, offering out a paw. "It will come as no shock to you that I know how hard and how expensive such a thing can be. I will pay you rent, you will accept, and you cannot say no!"

"Okay," Erik chuckled in mild disbelief. He returned Pieter's gesture, offering out the index finger of his free paw to seal the deal with a hearty shake. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome!"

They separated with a wide smile between them, content in their arrangement. Even so, the memory of what remained hidden from Pieter never strayed far from Erik's thoughts, keeping him from being able to beam too brightly.