This is not my first fanfic, but it is my first one posted on the site.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia

*.*.*

Arthur Kirkland wandered through the halls in search of his boyfriend, Alfred F. Jones. The loud American, however, was nowhere to be found. Confused and with his brow furrowed, Arthur walked over to Alfred's cousin, Matthew Williams, and asked, "Where's Alfred? I can't find him anywhere."

Matthew blinked in surprise, "You don't know?"

Arthur looked warily at Matthew, "Don't know what?"

"He's at my house. Every 9/11 he stays home."

"Why?"

"I can't really answer that."

"Why not?"

"It's not my story to tell. You can come home with me to see him after school today if you want."

"Thank you, Matthew. I might just take you up on that offer."

Matthew nodded and turned back to his boyfriend and the rest of the Bad Touch Trio.

*.*.*

After school, Arthur joined Matthew at the doors and walked with him back to Matthew's house. When they arrived, Matthew directed Arthur up to Alfred's room, gave him Alfred's homework, and then walked to his own room to start his own homework.

Nervously, Arthur knocked on Alfred's door as warning before opening it. "Alfred, love? Are you alright?"

There was a sniffle and a sob from beneath a mound of blankets and pillows on Alfred's bed. Arthur closed the door and set Alfred's homework down on his desk before walking over to the bed, sitting down on it, and crawling over to the mound. He pulled back the blankets until he found Alfred's face.

One look at the puffy, wet, red eyes, the tear stained cheeks, and the wobbly bottom lip, and Arthur laid down next to Alfred, pulling him into his arms. Alfred wrapped his arms around Arthur's torso and buried his face into Arthur chest. Arthur threaded his fingers of one hand through Alfred's hair and wrapped the other around Alfred's waist.

While Alfred was crying into Arthur's shirt, Arthur was kissing Alfred's hair and forehead as he whispered sweet nothings and words of comfort.

Eventually, Alfred calmed down and just laid his cheek against Arthur's chest.

"Are you alright, love?"

"No, *sniffle* not really."

Arthur unconsciously held Alfred a little tighter at that answer. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

Alfred was quiet for a moment before letting out a quiet sob. Arthur rubbed Alfred's back and dropped a kiss onto his forehead.

"You don't have to tell me. I won't mind if you don't."

Alfred took a moment to collect himself before moving out of Arthur's arms and sitting up. Arthur knelt beside him, his eyes trained on Alfred's face. Alfred's eyes traveled from his lap to Arthur's eyes.

"I was five when September eleventh came. I was living in New York with my parents. My mom worked in one of the Twin Towers, the one that was first hit. My dad was a firefighter, one of the first people in. Neither lived. After that, I moved in with the Williams."

Tears gathered in Alfred's eyes as he talked and Arthur pulled him into his arms when he was done. Alfred collapsed again in Arthur's arms, sobbing as tears streamed down his cheeks only to fall onto Arthur's shirt.

There was nothing Arthur could say to make it better, and he knew it. You can't secure someone who's lost so much. No words can fix the wounds of the past. They won't stitch up a cut that deep. So, Arthur simply sat with Alfred in his arms as Alfred's cried himself to sleep. Arthur shifted them so they were laying down on Alfred's bed. He fell asleep soon after Alfred.

And when they woke up the next morning in each others' arms, they were glad to see that a freak snow storm had come through during the night, providing them with time to do their homework.

*.*.*

Let me know what ya'll think. I love improving my writing.