Summary: This fic was largely inspired by the handbook that American soldiers were given when they went to England thus the title (you can find it -together with Joker comments- here: .) . Anyway, it was planned to be a quick rp between myself and snow_lady (my personal hero!) but... it's going to end up as a lengthy fic. Please, enjoy and review xP

It was an early September evening and the weather in Britain was still mildly hot. Arthur Kirkland was in the pub sitting by the bar with a pint of beer, but he wasn't really drinking it as he usually would. Frankly, everything was getting so bloody expensive these days and alcohol wasn't an exception. One had to be careful with money and Arthur figured it would be more practical (i.e. cheaper) to just sip on one beer for a while. He looked around the dark, dimly lit place which was as usual crowded, full of the voices he knew and had the very familiar smell. Arthur was feeling content until he heard the door open and a group of men -soldiers- walked in. Their uniforms and loud voices immediately betrayed their nationality. Arthur just rolled his eyes and turned back to the bar. Of course, he put up with the Americans like everyone did since they were helping the country... but, despite the seemingly similar cultures it seemed like the States and the United Kingdom were two different worlds.

Alfred was laughing with his friends as they walked into the bar. It had been a long hard campaign in France, but he was finally back in Britain on leave for 2 months. He had been shot on a rescue mission to get a group of captured British soldiers out of a German prison camp and this was his first day out of the hospital. His buddies, other injured men on leave, were celebrating his release like they did with everyman who makes it out of the hospital healthy and willing to still have fun. He really liked England. It was a beautiful country. He had tried his best to be a good guest. Alfred and his buddies went up to the bar and ordered beer. Arthur shuffled away to the side as the group of young men practically poured inside and crowded the space around the bar. He sat at a table which was furthest away not really seeking contact with the new arrivals. It seemed like they were celebrating which frankly meant that soon enough the pub would get even louder. Well, maybe he should be leaving earlier after all?

Once they got their drinks, several of the guys went to the dart board and started to play. Alfred though had been told to rest often, that he was still recovering and he felt tired. He looked around the bar and saw all the tables had been taken, but one in the back had only one guy sitting there. He walked over and smiled at the young, and as he got closer quickly realized, attractive man.

"Mind if I join you?"

Arthur looked up at the soldier who walked up to his table. The Brit raised his eyebrows a little as his sharp, emerald eyes examined the tall American who had perfectly straight, white teeth and shiny blond hair. Really, wasn't it just too picturesque? He then looked around and realised that indeed there were no other free places.

"...Feel free" Arthur shrugged. "You're not playing with your friends?" He asked with silent hope that the soldier may get his hint.

"I may join them later," Alfred said as he sat down at the table, "But I want to relax and enjoy the ba-... pub first. Oh, I am Captain Alfred F Jones, of the 4th division and you are?" He almost slipped up... but he was sure the other wouldn't mind too much. Arthur had to concentrate a little more to understand and to get used to the new accent... although recently it seems like all he's been hearing. He noted the close slip but it amused him more than anything else, especially the fact that the man decided to correct himself.

"Captain, eh?" Arthur said in a flat voice. "My name is Arthur Kirkland." Pleasant introduction was in the end the basis of good manners.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Kirkland!" Alfred said with a beam and held out his hand to Arthur. "Lovely country you have here, wished I could spend more time here."

"Just Arthur is fine." He replied and accepted Alfred's hand giving it a short, firm shake. "So it would seem. We may not have all that you do over there, on the other side of the pond... but you really should've seen the country before the war. I was born too late to know what it was really like." Arthur's words were sincere rather than bitter. England was already bearing the scars of the war which seemed to outshine the imperial greatness. Alfred smiled damped a little before it returned in full strength.

"Well, don't you worry about it Arthur, we will do our best to stop those Nazi!"

Arthur wondered if a smile could blind or at least give an electric shock. If so, Alfred's seemed capable of that.

"Hopefully. It's already been going for way too long and everyone has been waiting for it to end even before the war officially began." Arthur replied. "How long have you been in England, captain?"

"Just Alfred," He said with another smile. "and only a few weeks. Though this is the first day I really had a chance to look around. It is nice, finally getting some real time off."

"Since you have a captain title I'm assuming you're not just training here, right?" Arthur asked and took a sip of his beer, licking the moisture off his full lips. Was it intentional?

"No," Alfred said looking at his, rather full lips before looking back up. "I was injured on a rescue mission. This is my first day out of the hospital; my buddies and I are here celebrating my release."

"...Oh?" Arthur was a little surprised at this information since many young Americans soldiers didn't seem to do much that actually helped. "...Congratulations on getting out of the hospital then, Alfred." He said raising his pint in a small toast.

"Thank you." Alfred said with a smile, raising his glass as well. "It wasn't so bad, nicer than being on the field, though I like being here even better."

"...So, tell me." Arthur rested his elbows on the table and sent Alfred a small, almost flirtatious smile. "What part of the States you come from? What is it like?" He asked. He might have complained about the Americans and didn't get involved on his own wish but... Arthur wasn't stupid and knew they had a lot to offer... so why not take advantage of it?

"Oh, I am from Virginia, right outside Washington DC. It is a real swell area. Nice and quiet when you want it to be and it is a real easy trip to the city where you can go to plenty of bars and clubs." Alfred said, happy to be talking of home. He may have liked London, but home was still home. "I miss it some way, like the home-cooked meals and the candy bars... though Ma and Pa always send me one when they write since they know it is rare over here."

Arthur listened to the man now growing quite comfortable with the American's voice and accent. But one thing confused him.

"Wait... how old are you?" He asked furrowing his eyebrows. The Briton thought that Alfred was either his age or older and... it seemed like he was still living with his parents.

"19," Alfred said, drinking his beer. "I came over here when I was 17, straight out of high school."

"You must be joking" Arthur replied shaking his head. So... this man was actually a kid, still younger than himself? Really though... it was admirable that he had joined the forces so early. Alfred however looked confused.

"No, I am not." He had wanted to join the army, he wanted to stop the bad guys and be a hero; everyone knew the Germans and Japanese were bad guys, real bad. Arthur felt something clench at his heart and he finally gave Alfred a small but actually honest smile.

"We're happy to host soldiers with determination" he said. There was no way Europe was getting out of it alone, despite what impressions they liked to have. Alfred liked this smile on Arthur's face; it was pretty and made him look younger.

"Thank you kindly, Arthur. It is always nice to see a friendly face this far from home." Alfred smile and took another sip of the beer, "So, now that you know about me, how old are you?"

"Ah, I'm 21. And you may say I'm not really helping the country in the best way..." Arthur said with a sigh "...I'm a journalist and one of the youngest working for the Times. Don't worry I try not to mix private life with work" he added with a small smirk.

"Oh, I wasn't thinking that at all, I know loads of fellas who are still at home helping from there." Alfred said honestly. "So, a journalist? That is pretty nifty work."

Arthur couldn't help but smile, despite what anyone may think he was very proud of what he was doing and how he managed to find information that many people couldn't.

"...It is, and more difficult than many people would assume. I think... that it is important to keep people informed about what really is happening."

Alfred nodded. "Yea I can imagine, so do you get a lot of stories published in the paper? Oh man, this is so great, I will be able to look through the paper tomorrow and when I see you your name, I can tell all my buddies; I know that fella, he was nice to me." It was rare to find people who were really happy to see Americans; a lot of fellas didn't seem to like the Americans and tried to pick fights. Alfred did not understand why they weren't thrilled to see the American soldiers like the ladies were, but he was happy whenever someone treated him well. Arthur listened to the other man and felt pleasant warmth in his chest when Alfred started getting all happy and excited over the fact that he knew someone who writes for the national newspaper.

"Well... not all of them get published of course, I'm still very young for their standards and they have more experienced writers but... there are quite a few of my articles." He admitted. Arthur realised that his impression of Alfred was changing quite quickly, and with this also did his intentions. He thought it was going to be easy to either make the American go away or just get him to buy some drinks and be done with it... but instead, Arthur found himself absorbed in a conversation with the soldier who in fact enjoyed his time spent with his new friend. He knew that the handbook said he wasn't supposed to assume that they were friends and that it took a while for the Brits to really warm up to a person, but he felt a real connection to Arthur.

"Well the next time you are published, I will be sure to read it." Alfred finished his beer and saw that Arthur was done with his as well. "I am going to get another, would you like one too?"

Arthur was glad that Alfred proposed that, if he didn't the Brit would probably be getting ready to leave the place while actually... he now wanted to stay a while longer.

"Yes please, I'd love one" The Briton replied looking up at Alfred. He wondered just how many Englishmen Alfred spoke to before, how many of them were kind and polite, and how many made harsh, malicious remarks. Arthur was sure that there probably many more of the spiteful men. After all, the Brits were incredibly bitter about the Americans joining the war late, they were envious because they had the money and of course many were jealous because their girlfriends preferred the vigorous, happy -not to mention rich- American men.

Alfred got up and bought another beer for himself and for Arthur. Alfred had not spent that much time in England, but it was refreshing to see a friendly face among someone other than soldiers and the women. Even in the battlefield, the British soldiers never really wanted to spend time with their American counterparts. He understood that they were not happy that Americans were just joining the war, but he did not understand why the Brits seemed to think the American soldiers had anything to do with that. His buddies waved at him when they saw him at the bar, asking Alfred to join their game, but he waved them off for later. Alfred wanted to spend time with a person who didn't want to fuck him for his money, cry in thanks for coming over, or shoot nasty glares at him for being American. He knew some of his men didn't even want to help the Brits who had been captured, saying they didn't want their help to begin with, but Al insisted on the mission, knowing it was the right thing to do. It just sucked to know that he was directly helping the British people and still seeing the resentment in their eyes.

"Here you go, Arthur."

Arthur observed how his new companion actually refused to join his friends for now and felt that it actually made him happy that the American wanted to talk to him a little longer -despite approaching him negatively at first.

"Thanks a lot" he replied when Alfred placed the glass with light-yellow beer in front of him. "I heard that even the alcohol there is pretty different, eh?" he asked getting on a lighter topic.

"Yea," Alfred said with a smile, "But it is good, I like it... almost better than back home, but you better not be telling any of the guys." He added with a wink.

Arthur couldn't help but to chuckle at that. Most of the Americans kept complaining about the British food, cigarettes and alcohol, and this specimen was actually fond of good, old, English ale.

"Don't worry. I'll keep that to myself."

Alfred smiled at the Brit and took another sip of the beer. They kept talking for some time and through another beer, before Alfred's friends pulled him away, saying they were here to celebrate and it was time to celebrate with them. Alfred looked back at the man sitting at the table as he was starting to be dragged away and told the friends to give him a moment. He went back to the table and smiled at Arthur.

"Hey if you ever want to hang out sometime, I am staying at the army base, three blocks from the parliament building, stop by. I would love to see you again."

Arthur sighed with amusement, and smiled up at the American as he came back to him.

"...I'll try to visit." he replied vaguely as he decided it was better than to give a definite answer. Before Alfred managed to reply, one of his friends dragged him away and pushed another glass of alcohol into his hand. Arthur thought to himself that it was probably the right time for him to leave. The Briton got up from his seat and smiled to himself as he sent the last glance towards the Americans having their fun with the darts and getting 'captain Jones' involved. Well in the end... he will need to at least consider the proposition he got from Alfred.