I stopped running as the treadmill underneath me slowed to a stop. I huffed loudly and ignored the loud growling in my stomach. I grabbed my water bottle and wrapped towel around my neck as I walked back upstairs. My sweats hung loosely off my thin form as I stumbled up the stairs. I heard a loud knocking at my door and went to open it.
"Dude! We have to watch this! I found it while I was looking for an old Superman movie. It looked so awesome!" Alfred was already rambling as he rushed through the door. I shut the door and felt huge arms pull me into a hug from behind and lift me into the air. I winced slightly as my bones protested.
"Al! Put me down! I'm too big for you to be picking me up," I said. I heard him snort and he set me down.
"Dude, you're light as a freakin' feather. Don't even try pulling that bull crap. Though, you do stink, no offense!" he said quickly. I rolled my eyes as I started for the stairs.
"That's because I was exercising you dummy. I'm sweaty and stinky." I heard him follow as I walked into my room. He sighed dramatically.
"_, you know you don't have to do any of that. You're perfect exactly the way you are," he said softly. I looked over and saw him smiling at me. I grinned.
"Alfie," I cooed, turning with my clean clothes in hand, "you are definitely the sweetest guy I've…" I stopped, black spots suddenly blocking my vision.
"_?" Alfred said, rushing to my side as I swayed slightly. "_, are you alright?" I shook my head and my vision cleared a little.
"Y-yea, I'm good. Just haven't been sleeping much lately," I lied easily. Alfred looked down at me skeptically. "I haven't. How about you go downstairs and put that movie in while I get a shower and then I'll be down quick as a flash? How's that sound?" I asked, changing the subject quickly. His eyes lit up at the mention of the movie and pulled me into a deep, yet quick kiss.
"You got it babe! Don't take too long!" he called and rushed out. I sighed, thanking God that he was so ADD, and made my way to the bathroom. I stripped down and turned the shower on. I rinsed away the sweat and smell of running so hard and washed my hair and body.
I stepped out, shivering slightly. I walked to my full body mirror and wiped the condensation away. I sighed and felt tears start to bubble in my eyes. I thought I was fat and ugly, I believed that I was overweight. It was simply how I saw myself. The truth? I was at the starting point of becoming too thin. My skin was starting to cling to bones; I had hardly any meat left. I was subtly starting to look skeletal in some places. My hips, ribs, and shoulder blades were starting to jut out more than they should. I was thin and very much underweight; I simply didn't see it though. I knew that I wasn't eating much, if hardly anything, but I didn't want Al to know.
"_! Come on, hurry up!" I jumped at the loud voice behind the bathroom door.
"I-I'm coming Al!" I called shakily. I pulled on my bra and underwear, trying to ignore my reflection. I then slipped on a loose pair of jogging paints and a baggy T-shirt. I walked out, wiping at my eyes. I could smell popcorn in the kitchen and my stomach growled again.
"Hey babe! Where's all your food? There's nothing in here but salad," Alfred said. I walked down the stairs and through the hall.
"I'm on a diet," I fibbed lightly. This was the excuse I'd been using for the past week and a half or so. I hardly even ate the salad. I only ate it when I was desperate and I was trying to wean myself off it entirely. I heard grumbling from in the kitchen and poked my head in. Alfred was glowering at the popcorn maker. "I'm sorry if I'm fat but I need-" I was cut off as a hand was clamped over my mouth.
"Why do keep on sayin' stuff like that? You are not fat. You are beautiful and amazing," he told me, his eyes roving my form. "You almost look too thin," he said, his eyes narrowed suspiciously as he looked at my arms. They weren't too bad, but they were obviously smaller than what was normal. I panicked slightly and licked his hand. He yanked it away and I hurried to the living room.
"I'm fine!" I yelled as I plopped down onto the sofa. Alfred followed behind me with a bowl of popcorn, some chocolate and a few sodas. Surprisingly enough, there were no hamburgers. I swallowed, trying not to eye the food. He spread the junk food out on the coffee table between the television and couch and grabbed the remote.
"Come here you," Alfred said. I yelped as the American yanked me into his lap. I struggled for a moment, trying to wiggle out of his grasp, but to no avail. "And don't even start about being too big," he whispered in my ear. I sighed, admitting defeat, and leaned against him. It felt nice. His warmth simply radiated off him and soaked into my skin. I smiled, barely registering as his arms wrapped around my waist.
"You're warm," I mumbled, trying to cuddle closer. He laughed and tossed a piece of popcorn in his mouth. My stomach grumbled in response. I smiled as he rubbed circles along my back. I was surprised he didn't feel my bony frame through my shirt.
"Ouch! Dude, what the heck is poking me?" Alfred asked, pushing me away slightly and looking at his stomach. I felt my sides and pockets, trying to find the offending object. I realized it was my hip bone, however, and Alfred seemed to notice the same thing the same time I did. He grabbed the waistband of my pants and pulled them down just enough to reveal my sharp hip bone. His eyes widened as he took in the expanse of my thin lower stomach and waist. "_."
I jumped up, ignoring the worried, frantic look the man was giving me. I took off towards my room, tripping up the stairs clumsily. As my luck would have it though, my foot caught on the last step and I landed face first in the carpet. Heavy footsteps followed me up and I curled into a ball and whimpered.
"_," Alfred said, kneeling next to me. I shook my head, refusing to look up at him. I felt strong arms go around my small form and lift me into the air. I curled in on myself, not wanting to see or be seen. I was set down on my feet and turned around. "_," the American said, "_, look at me." I sniffed and looked up tiredly. His beautiful blue eyes were burning holes into me. I looked around, anywhere other than him, and realized we were in my bathroom. He grabbed my shirt and gently pulled it off. I didn't struggle as he removed my jogging pants.
"A-Al," I muttered, keeping my gaze away from his scrutinizing azure gaze. I didn't want to see the look on his face as he examined me. He turned me around and I was facing my mirror.
"Do you see yourself _?" he asked. He large hands were resting on my shoulders. "This isn't healthy. You are too thin! I can see your bones for goodness sakes!" I sniffled and looked at myself dejectedly. I was thin; I was so thin it was almost sickly looking. My underclothes were just barely staying on me. I just… I didn't even know anymore…
"I-I'm sorry," I whispered. I buried my face in my hands and felt my legs give out. Alfred held me against his chest and I cried against him. He held me up and helped me back into my clothes.
"Come on hun," Alfred said quietly. He picked me up again and carried me downstairs. He set me down on the sofa and cupped my face in his hands. "Hm, you know what you need?" he said, wiping my tears away with a calloused thumb. I looked at him and shook my head. He grinned and quickly kissed my forehead. He jumped and ran into the kitchen. I quirked an eyebrow as he reappeared.
"Ice cream?" I asked, eyeing the container. He nodded happily and plopped down beside me. "How is that here?" I asked. I knew that I'd thrown out all the junky stuff after I decided to… well… yeah. Alfred shrugged and grinned sheepishly at me.
"I decided to put it in your freezer a little while back to make sure you had something sweet in the house," he informed. I sighed and rolled my eyes. "In case of emergencies. You know, like if I had a sweet tooth in the middle of the night, or if you needed it! Like now!"
"Alright, alright Al," I replied, smiling a little. He grinned as he pulled off the lid. I swallowed visibly as I eyed the chocolate ice cream. Alfred brought up a spoonful and held it before me. I blinked and looked at him.
"Come on, open up," he prompted. I sighed and open my mouth a little. He popped the spoon into my mouth and I moaned as the cold spread through my mouth. I closed my eyes and could practically feel the sugar and energy rushing through my system. The dessert melted in my mouth and down my throat, leaving my taste buds and stomach begging for more. I opened my eyes and saw him holding another spoonful towards me experimentally. I lunged, taking the spoon in my mouth and tackling Alfred to the sofa.
"Mmm," I moaned again. "This is sooo good." I took the container from my boyfriend and started scarfing down the sweet treat.
"Slow down, you don't wanna get a stomach ache," Alfred said, laughing as he sat up on his forearms. I looked at him and stuck another spoonful of chocolaty goodness in my mouth.
"I don't even care. I swear I am never doing anything this stupid ever again. I'm won't ever give up ice cream again!" I declared around another mouthful. Why I ever though starving myself was better than chocolate ice cream, I'll never know.
"Promise?" Alfred asked, wrapping his arms around my too thin torso. I nodded, setting the nearly empty ice cream carton down and wrapped my arms around his neck. I leaned up and kissed him softly, trying to reassure him and myself.
"I promise Al. I'm really, really sorry. I just… I just wanted to be pretty," I mumbled as he kissed away spots of ice cream from around my mouth. He smiled and licked playfully at my lips.
"You are beautiful, and perfect, and gorgeous, and sexy, and I love you more than anything in the whole wide world," he told me. I nodded, smiling and grabbing the ice cream again.
"How about we share this last bit of ice cream?" I giggled, sliding the last spoonful into my mouth. He looked at me questioningly and I rolled my eyes. Dense idiot. I pressed our lips together and he quickly got the message. "Good?" I asked, pulling away and resting my forehead against his. He chuckled and kissed my nose.
"Best ice cream I've ever had."

***Extended Ending***

I jumped up, wrapping my legs around Alfred's waist. He sighed in response as he nipped and kissed his way down my throat. It had been nearly a month since my 'Act of Stupidity', as I called it. I'd started eating again and had slowly gained my health back. My color returned and I wasn't skeletal looking anymore. It was a huge relief to Alfred and I knew it.
I was yanked from my thoughts as I was pushed roughly against my bedroom wall. As soon as I was strong enough again, Alfred had uh… wanted to make up for lost time, as he put it. He was currently using the wall to prop me up as he one handedly unbuttoned my shirt. I gasped as he squeezed my thigh with his other hand. He fingers rubbed the sensitive spots along the inside of my thighs. He took advantage of it and kissed me, shoving his tongue into my mouth. I moaned against his mouth, unintentionally grinding my hips into his.
"Can you… imagine… if we'd tried this… a month ago?" he panted heavily against my mouth. "When you were all skin and bone?" I chuckled as he held me flush against his bare chest and walked us towards his bed. He kissed me though, not giving me time to answer the question.
He dragged his tongue across my lips, asking for permission this time. I refused, just to see what he'd do. He half-whined, half-growled and pushed past my lips. I sighed breathily as he explore, reaching my hands up to tangle in his sunshine hair. I pulled back, gasping softly in his ear.
"You'd have broken me," I whispered huskily. I heard him growl and I whimpered when he nipped roughly at my throat. He pressed us into the bed, shrugging out of his jeans as he did so.
"I can still do that," he murmured sensually, "now that I have something to hold onto." I giggled as he squeezed my waist and started removing the rest of my clothes. I grinned to myself, thinking of all the possibilities now that I had some meat on my bones.