Wherever

Getting together

Alfred has rushed to Ivan's house soon afterwards. After him and Matthew had their own sigh of relief, he ran through the trees. He was comfortable in the forest now. He knew the fast route to Ivan's house and loved the way the air smelled. Arthur and Francis were left to discuss arrangements while Matthew ran off to tell Gilbert and Ludwig. (Ludwig has opted to stay in Canada for a few days to catch up and be around his own brother.)

Alfred glanced at the pebbles below his feet and smiled. He threw them at Ivan's window and waited for it to open. Ivan appeared in the window and looked confused for a moment before opening it. Alfred wasted no time in climbing up the side of his house and in through the window. He practically collapsed on the floor as soon as he was inside.

"So much running." Alfred huffed, catching his breath on the floor of Ivan's room.

"What's wrong?" Ivan asked, concerned. "Is everything okay? You didn't run away, right?" Ivan wanted Alfred to stay just as much as Matthew did, maybe even more, but running away was probably not the best way for Alfred to stay.

"Nope!" Alfred exclaimed happily, popping up excitedly, apparently gaining his second wind.

"Then why are you here?" Ivan asked with a frown. Alfred raised an eyebrow playfully. "Not that you aren't welcome here! Not that I don't want you here! It's just, I thought you had a plane to catch." Ivan added, flustered. Alfred laughed softly and rested one hand on Ivan's cheek and the other on his shoulder.

"I'm staying." Alfred said, quietly. For the first time, he admitted it. It was true. It was real. He was staying in Canada. With his dad, with his brother, with his boyfriend. God that felt great to say. Ivan's eyes snapped up to meet Alfred's.

"What?" He breathed, very quietly.

"I'm staying. My father said he didn't want to separate Mattie and I, so we're moving the bridal store here, once we find a place and I'm moving in with Matthew." Alfred exclaimed, a large, but soft, smile painted on his face. Ivan didn't waste any more time after that. He swept Alfred up into a hug. He swung them around for a moment before kissing Alfred with passion. Alfred wrapped his arms around Ivan's neck for a better angle as Ivan's grip on his waist tightened. They were going to be okay.

And if Matthew spotted a bruise on Alfred's collar when they got changed into their pajamas, he certainly didn't say anything.

Arthur found himself sitting at a desk, not even his own desk, at one in the morning. It had been about a week since he had agreed to staying in Canada and he was still buried under paperwork. He needed to change his base of operations, his whole international business was being shifted. He was caught under a mountain of paperwork, every time he finished one piece, another ten seemed to fill it's place.

He absolutely despites paperwork. And now he didn't even have the right file. He sent out an email to his assistant before sighing. He really needed a drink right now.

Francis had made it very clear that him and Alfred were able to take whatever they wanted from the kitchen. Arthur had since not taken him up on that offer but these were desperate circumstances. He needed a drink. Arthur was actually happy that no one was around. If they had been around Arthur would, without a doubt, be embarrassed. Embarrassed but it wouldn't stop him from doing it. Instead, he grabbed an open wine bottle and poured himself a generous drink before downing half of it.

"Impressive." A voice murmured from the doorway. Arthur couldn't bring himself to feel ashamed for this. He glanced up and saw Francis standing there. Arthur nodded and gave him a lazy, two fingered salute before drinking again.

"Long night." Arthur answered.

"Couldn't sleep?" Francis asked, taking the bottle and poured himself a much smaller drink. Arthur shook his head.

"Haven't tried." He answered. Francis looked at him, confused. "Been busy. Paperwork, with moving and all."

"Arthur."

"Not only am I changing the base of operations, but I have to get citizenship for Alfred and I, I have to enroll him in school, here. There's just so many papers I- I" He sighed. "I just needed a drink." Arthur said, not meeting his eyes.

"Angleterre..." Francis started. Arthur snorted.

"You know just because I'm British doesn't mean I am the entire nation of Britain." Arthur muttered.

"You often act like it." Francis replied sipping from his own glass.

"Shut it, you bloody frog!" Arthur snapped. Francis laughed as Arthur finished his drink, pouring himself another generous glass.

"You're going to give yourself a hangover." Francis told him.

"And if I want to forget?" Arthur asked him. Francis stood closer, taking the bottle from him.

"Then you wouldn't want to use wine. I'd suggest something stronger." Francis replied with a smirk. Arthur snorted and looked down.

"Don't I know it." He muttered quietly. He looked up again to find Francis still in his personal space. He hesitated. Francis had done this a lot, especially during the start of their marriage. Although it was supposed to be different now, it didn't feel different. In fact it felt exactly the same, that was the part that scared Arthur. He wasn't supposed to feel the same way about the man he divorced as if they were still newly-weds. Right?

"Arthur." Francis whispered. "You really shouldn't work yourself so hard." Arthur, bit back a vile laugh.

"If I don't, who will? Alfred? Matthew? You?" He asked, Francis frowned ever so slightly. "No, this is my trouble. My issues."

"I could enroll Alfred in school." Francis continued, his voice still low. "I've done it with Matthew."

"No." It was Arthur's turn to whisper. "No, we have to have proof of citizenship. We don't have that yet." Francis hummed slightly, his finger making its way under Arthur's chin. He lifted Arthur's head up to face him. Not only was Arthur shorter but he had been sitting while Francis stood behind him.

The feeling was mutual, it wasn't just a one sided attraction. Arthur had leaned in too. Although he hadn't been drunk enough. Maybe one more sip and it would've happened. But it didn't.

Arthur put a hand on Francis' chest, effectively stopping them both.

"I should get to bed." Arthur breathed. Francis closed his eyes but nodded, as Arthur pulled away and towards the stairs.

"Don't frown." Arthur said before heading up. "It doesn't do your face justice."

_______

You know, You know. I want to say thank you to everyone who gave me such a sweet comment on my last chapter. Thank you all so much for being so understanding. I've honestly been trying hard to get this chapter to you guys, to write a chapter you all deserve. So I hope this is good enough. I am going to try my hardest to get the next chapter out to you guys on time. This is not the end but the end is near.

Seriously you guys are the best and I love you all so much! Thank you so much for reading. 

~Wes <3