Arthur slipped silently from the bed, careful not to wake his love, and quietly got dressed. He chose his tweed suit for the bleak morning. It was still too early for the sun to brighten the room more than a dull grey, and the hazy dragged at his fingers. They fiddled and hesitated to push each button through the hole. He glanced back at the bed longingly. Lovino still slept in a lump of blankets, one arm thrown into the space he once occupied. Arthur went to his lover and pulled back the blankets enough to see Lovino's face. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Lovino's cheek. The brunet continued to sleep undisturbed, and Arthur smiled. He lingered, watching Lovino sleep.

The taxi would arrive soon, but Arthur couldn't find it in himself to leave Lovino just yet. His suitcase was already packed and waiting by the door, and Arthur reluctantly walked out to the kitchen. He made himself a cup of tea. It would be his last cup in his home for a while, and he savored it. Arthur gazed around his kitchen. Usually he left the kitchen as Lovino's domain, but Arthur always loved being in it, especially if Lovino was cooking. There was nothing he enjoyed more than watching his lover move around the kitchen, working magic with his hands. As he closed his eyes and leaned against the counter, memories of laughter and smiles—shouting and tears—kisses and love, passed through his mind. He gave each one its due, cherishing them and tucking them back into the shelves of his heart with care.

"Sole mio." Lovino's smooth voice brushed over him, soothing the ache in his heart.

A hand laid against his cheek and Arthur leaned into it. Lovino modeled his body against Arthur's and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Arthur opened his eyes and smiled gently at his beloved. "I'm sorry, love. Did I wake you?"

"The moment you left my arms." Lovino ran a hand through his hair and laid his head on Arthur's shoulder.

Arthur knew this was Lovino's last ditch effort to convince him to stay. The brunet was never quite this sweet to him on a regular basis, but Lovino somehow thought that seducing him now with honeyed words would make him stay. It was already too late for him to change his flight and tell his client he wasn't going. Lovino didn't want him to go even more than Arthur himself didn't want to go. He'd never had a taste for France, and staying away from his love and life for a month seemed impossible.

Lovino lifted his head and kissed him gently. Arthur relished the sweetness and attention. When Lovino pulled back, Arthur slid a hand around the back of his neck and dove in for another kiss. He would be leaving for a month. That was exactly four weeks—thirty days—seven hundred and twenty hours. Far too long to go without kisses from his beloved. Lovino indulged him, deepening the kiss.

From outside, a car horn honked and Arthur pulled back. "That's my cabby..."

Lovino sighed and brushed his thumb over his cheek. "Have a nice flight."

He leaned forward and captured Lovino's lips in one last desperate kiss. While the brunet was distracted, Arthur carefully unclasped the gold chain around Lovino's neck and slipped the necklace into his pocket. It was just something to remember his love by during his time away from him.

Another honk interrupted them before they could get too caught up with each other and they walked to the door. Lovino stayed in the doorway as Arthur took each step down slowly with his suit case in hand. His baggage was heavy, but not as heavy as the baggage on his heart.

"Arthur..."

He looked back over his shoulder and memorized the sight. Lovino leaned against the doorway, watching him sorrowfully. If he didn't know any better, Arthur might have said he saw a tear in Lovino's eye. "Yes?"

"Ti amo tanto, sole mio."

Arthur smiled sadly. "Ti amo troppo, fatina."

After finally dragging himself down the last of the steps, he threw his suit case into the back of the taxi and himself in the back seat. "The airport, please, and hurry."

The taxi driver nodded and started to drive. "Where ya goin'? Anywhere special?"

"It's nowhere I want to be." Arthur retrieved Lovino's necklace from his pocket and held it in his hand. The gold cross shone even in the grey light and he sentimentally thought he could still feel Lovino's warmth coming from it. He clasped the chain around his neck and kissed the cross. It rested on his chest and for the first time since knowing he would have to leave, Arthur's heart felt a bit lighter.

...

"You are finally not wearing that terrible scowl, mon ami." Francis sat in the seat across from him with his chin resting on his hand. The Frenchman wore an expression of bored elegance, coupled with a designer silk shirt and tailored trousers. His entire outfit screamed wealth, while Arthur looked shabby in his old tweed suit. It was his own fault he was so under dressed. Lovino had warned him that he would need to wear one of his nice suits to Paris. "Is Paris really that awful?"

"It's never been Paris that's awful." He glanced around, taking in the smell of freshly baked bread and the sound of lulling French. If Arthur was talking to anyone else, he'd comment on the beauty and life of it, but this was Francis he was talking to and knowing Francis, the man would puff up like a prideful peacock. The only thing more annoying than Francis was Francis with his stupid sense of patriotic pride inflated to the size of the Eiffel Tower.

"Then its me?"

He rolled his eyes. "Despite my dislike for you, no. It's never been about where I am, it's about where I am not."

"What is so important you have to be there? I thought your job was the most important thing in your pitiful life." Silence passed between them and Francis stared at him. The Frenchman gasped suddenly, a new light coming to his eyes. "How could I not see it sooner! All the woeful sighs and short-tempered snapping. You—You're in love!"

"What! No!" Arthur flushed and his hand found the cross around his neck. "I never said that."

The blond smirked. "You've never struck me as a religious man, Arthur. Just tell big brother who it is."

"Shut up, you wanker." Arthur turned his face away. The Frenchman always teased him about how his grumpy personality would scare off anyone and everyone. Francis never took into account he might find someone even grumpier than him to love. "Why should I tell you?"

"I'm your oldest friend!"

"Oldest acquaintance," Arthur corrected.

"You wound me." Francis pressed a dramatic hand to his chest. "If you do not tell me, I might begin to think you're making him up."

"He is real!" Arthur pouted slightly.

"It wouldn't be the first time you've tricked me with a made up boyfriend."

"Oi, it's not my fault you mistook my cat for a lover."

"The way you talked about him was unnatural! You cannot blame me for being confused!" Francis shook his head. "We're getting off topic. Who is he? How did you meet someone who could finally stand to be near you for longer than a day?"

Arthur sipped his tea and decided he couldn't hold it in anymore. He'd been keeping Lovino a secret for fear of things not working out. If he was going to have his heart broken, he rather have it broke alone and not have to face the mockery of anyone else knowing exactly what was killing him and how much it was killing him. "You remember my business trip to Italy?"

"The one last year?" Francis looked at him with renewed interest.

"Yes. I met someone." Arthur felt his mind drift back to the stifling heat of Rome.

It happened quickly, almost immediately after first meeting. He didn't believe in love at first sight, but his meeting with Lovino was much more than just eye contact. Arthur had been in a hurry to get back to his hotel and he hadn't noticed the man coming around the corner. They collided in a flurry of papers and rolling fruit. Arthur would never forget that flushed face cussing him out in Italian, while he stared like an idiot. Once Lovino had figured out he didn't speak Italian, he'd quickly switched to English and chewed him out in a whole other language. It was the least to say Arthur was smitten. He offered to buy the man, whose name he would later learn was Lovino, lunch as an apology and Lovino surprisingly accepted (He would also learn that Lovino never declined a good, free meal).

That first lunch led to others and soon Lovino was showing him around Rome. The days blurred together and, after a merry night at a bar, they fell into bed together as quickly as they had fallen into love. But as his job would have it, he was to leave too quickly. Lovino didn't come to see him off the last day, but they had said their goodbyes with wine and kisses—promises never to be kept. Arthur had told Lovino if he was ever in London to come see him. The Italian hadn't said anything, and Arthur doubt Lovino would ever leave his beloved Rome for dreary London. That was the end of his short love affair—or so he thought. Upon entering his dull apartment, Arthur found a very tired and very satisfied Italian occupying his couch. And that was the official start of their life together. It seems so surreal thinking back on it, like something out of a romance novel, and Arthur could hardly believe his luck some days.

"You truly are a romantic." Francis sighed dreamily at the end of his story. "I cannot believe he left sunny Italy to move in with you."

"At least I found someone willing to move for me. You haven't had a steady relationship in years." Arthur crossed his arms. "Do not bring down my love with your dismal love life." There was a pause and he began laughing. "I never thought I'd be the one saying that to you, usually it's the other way around."

"You're terrible." Francis pouted.

"And he's wonderful." Arthur felt a smile pull on his lips and the golden brown of his tea began to remind him of Lovino's eyes. "You don't even know the half of it, Francis. Lovino can cook, sing, dance. He smart and witty. I love him so dearly. I can't bear to be away from him."

Francis reached out and touched his hand. "I'm happy for you, my friend. I'll have to meet this Lovino someday."

"Oh no, no, no. He would absolutely hate you." Arthur smirked. He'd carefully groomed Lovino to despise Francis. He was well aware of Lovino's violent temper and would happily deploy it against the blond. "He doesn't care much for the French."

"Then he doesn't have good taste." Francis huffed. "But considering he fell in love with you, I'm not surprised."

"If you do ever meet him, I suggest you never say that to his face. Lovino prides himself on his taste in things, and that comment would likely get you thrown out with a blackened eye." Arthur's smirk grew into a grin. "I always forget to mention he has a wonderful temper."

Francis frowned. "Only you would find a temper to be wonderful."

He laughed and paid for his meal, standing up. "I have to leave. It's almost time for my flight."

"Wait, I have one last question about this Lovino." Francis looked at him in a moment of sudden, great solemnity.

Arthur sat down slowly and frowned. "What is it?"

"You have told him about your job, haven't you?"

"Of course, I have." Arthur scowled. "I find the people who don't want to be found. Plain and simple."

"Don't pretend you're the average private detective. You never advertise it as such." An almost mocking smile pulled at Francis' lips, but there was pity in the Frenchman's eyes.

"You know it would be dangerous to tell Lovino the complete truth..." mumbled Arthur, looking away. "I keep secrets for a reason. I can't lose him."

Francis shook his head, obviously disappointed. "Then tell me what he does know. If I am to ever meet this Lovino, I want to know what I can and cannot mention. It's simply for your sake, we wouldn't want him to think you're of an...unsavory disposition."

"Shut up, Francis," he snapped, annoyed with Francis' ability to remind him his life will never be simple when relationships are involved. "I've told him that I am hired by clients to find people. My clients are usually wealthy, and I am good at what I do."

"So, you've basically told him nothing."

"Just the basics!" People glanced their way, and Arthur lowered his voice. Francis always could get him wound up so easily. "He doesn't need to know anything more."

"Whatever you think is best, my friend, but I hope it all turns out alright when he finds out you make people disappear as well as find them."

Arthur said his goodbyes to Francis and went back to the hotel. He was finally going home and Lovino would be waiting with a kiss, although the conversation with Francis had left a bit of a bitter note on his joy. Arthur smiled all the way to the airport and not even stupid people could take away his happiness. Lovino was only a short distance away and he couldn't wait to close that distance.