He had been sent back to Earth for ideas for developing their own world. He had been there for five years, now twenty eight years old, and Arthur was loving life. The waistcoats had been shoved to the back of the wardrobe years ago, and sweater vests and ties took their place. He worked at a bar while he stayed on Earth. His actions, although for the best, were slowly changing him. He had started putting Cardverse behind him. Of course, he had it in the back of his mind, but it wasn't his top priority. Even Mint Bunny didn't visit him any more. The bar life was something he loved; meeting different people each night and making friends. Including a few man-and lady- friends.

...

"Guys, we can't keep him here for much longer." Mattie sighed. Cerise, Gilbert and Rose turned to face the quiet blonde with pure concern on their worried faces. Alfred was locking himself away for months. Arthur was only meant to be gone for two years maximum, and he hadn't made contact for three. Alfred had been forbidden to go after him, he had responsibilities with the Spades Kingdom, but he was lonely. He was refusing food, refusing company and the Kingdom was growing weaker with him. Francis and the Diamonds Kingdom knew this and were planning a surprise attack, and with Alfred in his current state, they would have no leader.

"You really think we should? What if Arthur's..." Dead? It was a possibility. He hadn't made contact with them for three years. There had to be a reason.

"He's not. I would know." They all turned to face Alfred. God, he looked bloody awful. He was thin, pale, squinting in the tame daylight from where he had trapped himself in the dark for so long. He was also speaking as quietly as Mattie.

"I would feel it. He's still there, but...distant." Cerise sighed.

"If you're going, you're getting cleaned up first." They all turned to face her, surprised. She stomped on the ground and growled. The Queen of Hearts was known for having a short and vicious temper.

"Arthur's our brother! I'm surprised no one's acted sooner, in fact, I'm disgraced at my own behaviour! We can take care of the Spades Kingdom for one night." She nodded at Alfred.

"That's all we're giving you. You leave tomorrow at noon, and return at the next noon." He nodded, and smiled, although feebly, for the first time in years.

"Thanks, Cerise." She nodded.

"You bring back my little brother."

...

Arthur smiled at her. She was pretty, a brunette with deep chocolate eyes and she had been flirting with him all evening from her table. Occasional glances, batting eyelashes. Usually he would ignore such immature behaviour, but he was bored and tired. She strutted up to the bar as he cleaned pint glasses with an old cloth that had definitely seen better days.

"Your shift end soon?" He smirked.

"It might do. Why?" She grinned.

"I'll meet you out back. What time?" He couldn't believe what he was doing, but the human world...he was allowed to have fun here, right? Different rules and regulations...

The truth was, he had almost completely forgotten Alfred's face, his voice. Alfred was a distant memory, their connection fading rapidly, along with Cardverse and the Ace he had once been.

"Nine. See you there." She nodded and walked out.

...

"You're here."

"I have a watch, and I would never leave such a gorgeous woman in an alley where she would be vulnerable..." He had her trapped against a brick wall. Both wore smirks that would put the devil to shame. It had been such a long time since he had craved bodily contact, but now, he needed it.

Lips clashed suddenly. A wave of guilt washed over Arthur, along with another feeling. It wasn't the same. There was something missing. A person. A name. A voice.

No, wait, the voice was there, but it was in pain. The kissing stopped as suddenly as it started, and Arthur froze. A face and voice he could try to suppress but would never manage it. Tears on deathly pale skin. Arthur swore he was bigger built, but he had bags under his eyes now. His voice, trembling, hand reaching out. The girl ran.

"Arthur...how could you...after I waited so long..." Alfred collapsed on the floor, weeping in the grime of the alley. Arthur didn't feel like he had the right to touch him, to hold him after what he had just done, but he wanted to comfort the broken man.

His husband. Oh God.

Alfred was truly broken. Arthur had seen him cry before, but never like this. Eventually, he threw all of his pride out the window, and grabbed Alfred in his arms.

"Why Arthur? Why...why d-did you do this t-to me? I waited for s-so long...it was dark, and I was alone...afraid you weren't gonna come back..." Arthur himself was shaking from tears.

"I'm so sorry, Alfred. I forgot...forgot what I had...I was convinced this was my home...and I swear to God that was the first time I ever touched a person like that...I don't deserve forgiveness. I don't deserve to go back. I don't deserve you." He suddenly received a harsh slap across the face, but it wasn't from Alfred. Instead, it had been delivered by a certain green rabbit with wings and a very loud voice.

"HOW COULD YOU, IGGY? HE TRAPPED HIMSELF AWAY WAITING FOR YOU! FRANCIS IS ABOUT TO START A WAR WHILE WE'RE WEAK, AND YOU'RE CHEATING ON THE MAN WHO GAVE YOU HIS ALL? YOU MAY BE THE QUEEN OF SPADES, BUT WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!" Alfred sighed.

"Bunny, stop. He was confused. He...it's not his fault." Mint bunny growled.

"I'm saying this as your pet and ex-best friend. You don't deserve such a caring husband." Arthur nodded. He deserved everything he had just been told, but he really didn't deserve Alfred.

Said man wrapped his arms around the other. Bunny faded away before Alfred next spoke.

"I believe you. I believe that was the only time. I believe you're sorry." He suddenly started crying and shaking again.

"I'm just so glad I found you! I was so lonely! Never leave me again, please!" He was literally begging Arthur. Arthur nodded.

"I promise, and I swear I'll make this up to you." Alfred nodded.

"I love you, Arthur. I mean that. No matter what you do, how long I have to wait. Your Kingdom need you. I need you!" Arthur nodded again. It seemed to be the only action he was physically capable of.

"Then, let's get some sleep, and we'll head back tomorrow. I just hope the others are as forgiving as you..." Alfred took his hand, wiped his eyes and smiled.

"They'll just be relieved you're back. Lead the way."

...

Arthur was using the same flat he had more than a decade before. A quaint little room with a double bed, a tiny bathroom, a tiny kitchen and a TV on the second floor. It had a freshness to it, character, that made him feel at home. Alfred had never been in there before and couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

"The palace is way cooler, dude." Arthur sighed in defeat. Alfred was right.

After a huge meal in an attempt to bulk Alfred up again, the two sat on the sofa cuddling and watching reality TV as nothing else was on. Alfred had missed TV; they didn't watch them much in Cardverse, but Arthur wasn't interested. In fact, his entire mind was swallowed up in what was Alfred.

This was love. Instant forgiveness. Acting like new lovers even though he had just cheated after a five year runaway. Being able to escape back to normality after something so bizarre...oh God, he had missed Alfred and knew he was to blame for the man's deteriorating health. The sparkling blue eyes had lost their joy. Arthur crossed his fingers and silently vowed to restore it.

Alfred cuddled closer to Arthur, still not quite believing the smaller man was back in his arms. He would forgive Arthur time after time, he just needed him like a drug. Those five years without him had been absolute hell. He was still as beautiful as always, if not slightly duller due to the normality of human life. He just wanted to touch...

Fingers prodded the buttons on the remote and the screen went blank. He had believed Arthur, but even still, it wouldn't be a bad thing if he was to...claim him again, right? Just to make sure he wouldn't go off again...make sure Arthur got as addicted to him as he was to Arthur...

Fingers crept up the shirt that smelt of alcohol and danced along the male Queen's waistband. Arthur froze. His body hadn't reacted at all to the girl earlier, but those tiny, tender touches were quite frankly driving him up the wall and along the ceiling before coming back down the other side and ploughing through the window.

"Alfred...what are you..."

"Mine. You get that?" Hands stroked his inner thigh, much too close to his already hardening member. Arthur was confused.

"What?" Alfred pushed him down on to the sofa, ripping his shirt open and leaving his chest exposed so he could punctuate his words with kisses from Arthur's stomach to his neck.

"You. Are. Mine. And. No. One. Else's." He stopped at eye level with Arthur.

"No one else is allowed to have you. You are mine. Yes?" His voice had dropped lower so now he sounded quite like a lynx trapped in a violin. Music to Arthur's ears.

"Yes...all yours..." Lips connected for the first time that evening, and Alfred couldn't have been happier to claim Arthur back as his own. He adored the small man, almost to the point of worshipping his small pale frame. No one could have the magical being that swooped into his dull life and took him away to see so much more. That person, that being, that Queen, belonged to him.

Arthur at first was surprised, but he understood. He had put Alfred through hell, promising to be with him always, cheating on him and abandoning him for half a decade. It wasn't right. If this is what Alfred wanted, if Alfred wanted proof Arthur was still his and his alone, Arthur was going to go to extremes to prove himself worthy.

A small, thin hand cupped Alfred's crotch in his hand. Alfred looked up, confused. Arthur smiled, green eyes widening apologetically.

"You are to give me nothing, because it's all I deserve. You on the other hand, deserve all the pleasure in the world." He grasped Alfred's clothed manhood and smoothly pulled his hand upwards. Alfred gulped and watched the other's face for any signs of disapproval or boredom. Arthur wasn't giving him any of that; the only things you could read from the smaller man's face were pleasure, curiosity and want. It had been five years after all since he had last had this opportunity and Arthur wasn't going to let this one go to waste.

Arthur pushed Alfred back on the sofa, so now he was on his back, and started to stroke his inner thighs. Alfred had a huge blush over his face. Even before Arthur had left; this had been a rare treat for them as they never had the time for it. Alfred still hadn't gotten over the initial embarrassment of the situation.

Arthur stroked a hand lovingly down Alfred's left cheek, and kissed his forehead soothingly.

"It's alright. I'm all yours. No one else's. No one could ever better you..." Arthur undid Alfred's tie and waistcoat, throwing them to the floor. The shirt came undone quickly; nimble fingers took care of the issue. Arthur took hold of Alfred's lips again, before moving down his neck and onto his chest.

It was at this point he really felt guilty. Alfred's abdominal muscles had gone due to the lack of food or exercise he had been having, he was paler due to lack of sunlight, and Arthur was able to see his rib-cage. It had all been his fault. But it was okay. He would make it up to him. He would get him back on track again.

He would take care of him.

Arthur reached Alfred's waistband, and dragged a finger across the top teasingly. Alfred raised his hips; the bulge in his pants was obvious now.

"Please, God, Arthur..." Arthur cocked his head.

"What do you want, sweetheart?" He smiled at that, reaching a hand out to caress the others face.

"You." Arthur smiled, slipping his hand into Alfred's boxers and softly stroking his length. Alfred threw his head back and sighed. Just like old times.

Arthur pulled Alfred's member from it's confines, continuing to stroke it teasingly with his long, slim hands. Alfred hissed when Arthur dragged the tip of his index finger across his slit. Arthur found pleasure in teasing him, but is wasn't his pleasure he had to focus on, he reminded himself, so got down to business. Too quickly, apparently, for Alfred to comprehend.

"Oh God, yes!" Alfred cried, thrusting upwards as Arthur's mouth made contact with his cock. Arthur smirked and continued his assault, sharp tongue scraping and dipping into every crevice of his lover and husband's pride. Alfred couldn't control himself. All his nerves were on end.

This was it. He was back. His Arthur was back with him again, back where he belonged, doing things to him that made him feel so alive. He knew he couldn't fully take Arthur back tonight; Arthur had said he wasn't to touch and he would want to do it back home anyway, but this marked the moment where he felt happy again for the first time in years. Back with his Arthur.

Arthur grasped his cock and waved his tongue across the head, making Alfred cry out.

"Please! Arthuuuuuur~" Arthur nodded, and shoved Alfred's cock into the back of his throat, making Alfred see stars.

"Yes Arthur, Oh God, more! Yes...nng...ARTHUR!" Semen erupted into Arthur's mouth, which he swallowed as he knew his partner loved. Alfred was shaking, bright red, sweating and still moaning from the orgasm.

"Thank you, thank you..." Arthur shushed him and stroked his hair as Alfred peered up at him through half lidded, sapphire eyes. Arthur lip locked with him briefly, the last time for that night.

"I love you." Alfred smiled as the energy to stay awake left him.

"...Love you...too." Arthur watched as his King fell asleep, and soon drifted of beside him, wrapping Alfred's arms around him for warmth.

...

Okay, this was originally meant to be a two shot, but I think it might be three or four. Bear with me, okay? Thanks for reading! :3