AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Well, this is my first fanfiction that is going out on the internet. I'm pretty nervous, because I usually don't like my work and end up deleting everything I do. And I don't know if this idea has already been used before... This story literally came to me in a dream I had. So, here I go!

(These chracters belong to Hidekaz Himaruya, and I own none of them.)

The crisp December air bit at Arthur's nose. Every breath he took was icy cold, and he didn't like it. This was one of the many reasons he hated Winter. Though, he had to grin in bear it, because this was his boyfriend's favorite season. Yes, his boyfriend. He'd do anything in the world for Alfred. Alfred, the silly, blond-haired male that he loved with all his heart despite his ability to be quite annoying at times.

Arthur tugged on the collar of his jacket to where it came over his ears, which were beginning to feel like icicles now. He was sure that they were going to fall off at any given moment.

He let out a huffy breath, and watched as the air in front of his face turned into puffs of white. "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..." the song was on repeat in his head, and was about to drive him mad. Alfred had sung it earlier, so that's probably why it had stayed there.

My poor, poor Alfred. He thought over the loud Christmas carols that were bouncing around in his skull.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see children in their coats and mittens running on the icy sidewalk. He would've told them not to run, for it was too slippery, but he didn't think he could find the energy to speak at the moment. The only thing his mind would let him think about was Alfred. Alfred, Alfred, Alfred.

Arthur heard a husky voice come from his left side. "Spare change?" It said. He glanced over and saw an overweight man with a wispy brown beard holding out an empty tomato soup can to him. It only had a few copper coins in it. "I'm sorry," his voice sounded surprisingly rough and weak. "I don't have any on me." He saw the look of disappointment wash over the other male's face, and it made his heart clench up inside his chest. That was thing he hated about Winter; beggars who expect everyone to be in high-spirits and generous enough to give a few pennies. But no, not Arthur. Even though it made him feel bad, he needed all the money he could scrape up at the moment. "Terribly sorry, sir," he repeated, walking away as quickly as he could if the man decided to jump him and see if he really didn't have any money with him.

Which, he did.

As he made his way down the street, he took notice of the lights and decorations that had been put out. There were wreaths and tinsel strewn in the windows of candy shops and bakeries, making them seem very cozy and warm inside. It just made him feel even colder. "Hey!" Another time, from behind. What now? "Have you seen this dog?" The boy who looked to be in about his teens held up a yellowing piece of paper with a poorly drawn picture of a Basset Hound. "No, I'm sorry..." Again, another look of disappointment that gnawed at his heart. "But," he added. "I'll tell you if I see one." Arthur threw in a friendly smile for good measure. The boy's face automatically lightened, and he said, "Her name is Lucy-Lou."

They exchanged small chat for a few moments before the teen ran off and stopped a young woman nearby, asking her the same question. As soon as he left, his smile dropped. Smiling was exhausting these days, and it didn't happen often. They were always forced, and talking was even harder. He honestly didn't know how long he could take it anymore. But, he tried, for Alfred.

Alfred, Alfred, Alfred...

Arthur saw a cars coming down the road, and thought about stepping out in front of them. But no, Alfred would be devastated. There was absolutely positively no chance he could ever do such a thing to his beloved; it would surely make him more ill than he already was.

He almost slipped on a patch of ice, but used a tree to balance himself. "Bloody snow," he growled, puffing his chest out. "I hate Winter." He happened to glance down at his watch, and nearly gasped when he saw that it was past nine 'o clock. Damn it! Visting hours will be over soon. Arthur only slipped once more as he dashed down the sidewalk. Even if he did get there on time, he'd only have a few minutes to talk to Alfred. Well, it was better than nothing at all.

He managed to bump into several people on the way; all of them begging for money, and all of them completely wasting his time. 9:42 his watch read. He swore under his breath, and continued running. Maybe they'll let me in if I cry, He thought. But as he entered the glass hospital doors, he realized that he was in no condition to be sucking up to nurses. The run had left him breathless, and it seemed like every strand of his blond hair was frozen in place by the cold. Tears were streaming out of his emerald-green eyes; that had also been an effect of the cold weather outside. His eyes and throat burned, but he still had to try to convince someone to let him see Alfred.

9:54.

"Ma'am!" Arthur attempted to flatten his hair and moisten his throat again. His whole body shivered. "Y-You have to let me see Alfred," he pleaded in a trembling voice. His lips seemed like they had been frozen, and it took a great effort to get them to move. The nurse gave him a very worried look and extended an arm to Arthur to steady him. "Please, I really need to talk to him. I promised Alfred that I'd come to see him today."

"Alright, what room is Alfred in?" She asked, using a tone of voice that you would use to tell a wounded child he was going to be okay. Her chestnut brown hair fell over her shoulders in wavy sheets, and her eyes were as blue as the sky. It would not have been an understatement to say that she was stunningly beautiful. Even though Arthur was, well, in relations with a man, the thought of falling in love with this woman would not have been impossible. In fact, that very thought was going through his mind right then; and for just a moment, he'd forgotten about Alfred.

Pull yourself together, lad! He scolded himself. Arthur cleared his throat, and desperately searched his brain for that three-digit number that was swimming around in his skull somewhere. What was it? I can't remember three bloody numbers?

"Are you alright?" the nurse asked in her sweet, sing-song voice. He gave a polite nod in reply, spitting out the numbers, "234." Yes, that was his room number. How could he have not remembered that? Those numbers were right next to each other. Stupid. The girl smiled, leading Arthur to a nearby elevator. "Go up to the second floor," she said. "Then walk down the hall to your right until you reach his room."

"Thank you," he let out a long sigh.

When Arthur boarded the elevator, he unconsciously punched in a button on the panel. His knees were shaking, and he was scared that they might give out at any moment. His ears caught the faint sound of music; Christmas music. "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..." That song again. "Oh, what fun it is to ride in a-" The music was cut off by a blood-curdling scream. It only took him a few seconds to realize that he was the one screaming. Laying doubled up on the ground with his hands pressed over his ears, Arthur could have easily been mistaken for a psych patient. Luckily, he had enough time to straighten himself out before the elevator doors slid open. He could barely move his feet to exit the box; it felt like someone had filled his shoes with lead. You can do it, Arthur he told himself. Do it for Alfred. Alfred. You need to see Alfred. Just the thought of his male companion made his heart ache to see him. Alfred. He took a reluctant step. Alfred! The next thing he knew, he was jogging down the hallway. Oh, how he desperately wanted to see the face of his beloved angel again. If he could only find the room number... 536, 537, 538... Wait! I'm on the wrong floor. Arthur rolled his eyes. What a bloody fool I am. He turned to head back to the elevator, but was startled when the nurse from before was standing right in front of him. "Wrong floor, dear," she said sweetly. The idea that she had followed him didn't even occur to Arthur. "Yes, I've just realized that." The mere sound of her voice gave him a strange feeling, not unlike the one he got when Alfred was around; but there was a strange air to this girl that Alfred didn't have.

"I'll just be going now," he said with a polite smile, fastening his plaid scarf around his neck. Her blue eyes gave off a strange glint as she gave him a small nod, walking down the white halls with graceful strides.

Something was odd about her, and Arthur knew it; he just couldn't get past the fact that she was absolutely gorgeous.

Arthur entered the elevator again, this time paying attention to what button he pressed. He felt the metal box start to move upwards. He was really going to see Alfred this time; just the thought made his heartbeat accelerate. Taking a deep breath, he ran a hand through his wet hair. Alfred. He was almost frightened to see him, for the last time he had visited his beloved was absolutely agonizing. To see the one you love with various tubes and needles sticking out of them... There is no word in the English vocabulary to describe the amount of helplessness and anger it can make one feel. In fact, Arthur was sure that he had cried for at least a solid hour after that. It pained him to leave Alfred in that wretched hospital every night like that, and he could barely sleep at all anymore. This whole situation was draining them both physically and mentally.

As he walked down white halls for a second time, his mind was racing with terrible thoughts. What if he had suddenly died just minutes before Arthur had made it onto the floor? What if he'd died back when he was talking to that nurse? Oh, no. What if he dies when Arthur is in the room with him? He tried to shake the thoughts from his head. Optimism, Arthur he told himself.

He stopped in front of the door that read "234" on a small bronze colored plaque.

Arthur reached out, and slowly turned the doorknob...