Pairing: MapleTea

Title: Winter Love

Written By: Chloe Bee, AlexisPrime

The stars were out that night, hanging high above the people milling around below as they tried to get home. The flow of people had already begun to slow to a trickle. The constant stream dying down. It made the city seem less hostile and threatening, even to those like himself who were only visitors.

Even in the darkness, the city seemed bright. Lights were still on in the tall buildings around him as he waited, hoping to find the one man he was visiting. He couldn't help but enjoy the peace. Snow dusted the ground, a pure white blanket over a sleeping city. It wasn't as loud or busy as his own, offering a safe haven and get away for him.

He looked in shop windows absently as he walked down the street, his hands in his pockets to protect him from the cold weather. It wasn't long before the streets emptied of most people, leaving him alone.

Another person hurried through the cold, his eyes darting around the empty streets in search of the gentleman still wandering.

And still he kept walking silently until he stood in a park blanketed in crisp snow. He watched the snow settle around him peacefully, glad to be here. He heard the distinct crush of snow beneath boots moments before he heard the voice he was waiting for.

"F-found you... Y-you wandered off..."

Arthur smiled and turned.

"Sorry Matthew... I try not to but I was curious about this place so I wanted to look around..." He said gently, smiling at the taller man.

"I-I didn't make you wait long, d-did I? I had to feed Kuma... A-are you cold?" Matthew asked shyly.

"No no, I'm fine Matthew." Arthur smiled. The Canadian gave a relieved smile as he moved to stand beside Arthur, looking out at the park. A family was nearby, two children playing despite the late hour. The girl shouted a warning as they watched a snowball sail over to where Arthur and Matthew stood. Arthur pulled Matthew down as he ducked to avoid the snowball.

"Sorry Matthew. Sir," the girl called to them both. She and her brother quickly left the park to return home, quietly talking. Arthur smiled, staying close to Matthew as he smiled too.

"I-It's ok L-Lily," he called back, smiling. It was rare that they were able to get a quiet moment alone, for Matthew usually had Alfred nearby or Arthur was swept away to deal with something in his own home country.

But now they were given a perfect opportunity to spend such a quiet moment together and without anyone else interfering. Arthur sighed contently, a plume of white dragon's breath coming from his mouth before disappearing.

Matthew's gaze shifted from the stars and sky to Arthur's face. He couldn't help but think the Englishman looked handsome, his cheeks and nose reddened from the cold and a thoughtful expression on his face.

Arthur could see Matthew looking at him out of the corner of his lime-green eyes and his own cheeks and nose reddened. He too thought of the sweet Canadian as handsome but he knew, he just knew, Matthew didn't like him in the same way he liked him. At all. And there was that sinking feeling in the Englishman's heart again, the thoughts and feelings he held for Matthew drowned in a sea of doubt and hopelessness.

Seeing Arthur's expression begin to sink made panic run Matthew's spine and he sighed, watching the steam that it resulted in. Snow lightly started to fall, and Matthew thought desperately of something he could do to make Arthur feel better.

Arthur's eyes were cast towards the snow-laden ground as he sighed slightly, shoving his hands deeper into the pockets of his long coat as his fingers played with a Maple Leaf key ring.

"D-don't look so s-sad..." Matthew whispered so quietly the only way Arthur was sure he spoke was the fog of his breath hitting the cold air.

"I... I'm not... sad..." Arthur said quietly, clearly lying to deny those strong feelings he had for Matthew. The Canadian removed one glove, gently touching Arthur's cheek, taking a risk. He tipped Arthur's head up slightly so their eyes locked, offering a gentle smile to the upset Briton. Arthur's cheeks went redder than before as he slowly brought himself to look into those blue-purple hues, a furious blush on his cheeks. Matthew's own blush deepened as he found himself drowning in emerald green eyes.

"Don't be sad..." he repeated in his usual quiet way, though there was something else lacing it that normally wasn't present.

"I... I..." Arthur had no words for he was lost for them, lost in a sea of purple and blue behind half-rimmed glasses. He found silent salty tears tracing down his cheeks but he wasn't sad nor happy. He didn't know what he was right now.

Matthew gently wiped them away, slowly starting to close the distance between them. The last thing he could possibly wish to do would be to chase Arthur away by doing something unwanted. His touch lingered on Arthur's cheek before his hand settled on the shorter's shoulder, the cold biting into his skin. But his smile never faltered.

Arthur looked up at Matthew again, managing a shaky smile at the young man before him as he went over in his mind what made him love Matthew. Those big purple-blue eyes that were so full of kindness. That adorable curl of hair that would quiver and cringe. The never-faltering smile that was on his face even when he would be ignored or hurt. The unbelievable softness of his voice that was enough to make even a grown man smile. Everything about Matthew was more precious than gold to Arthur, making him want to be with him more and more. Arthur brought himself back into the real world when he could feel Matthew's other hand rest on his cheek lightly like a feather.

"S-someone like you should never be sad..." Canada mumbled to himself, his eyes closed. His fingers traced the curve of Arthur's face. His smile had become bittersweet and sad.

"Neither should someone like yourself..." Arthur said quietly, almost shyly, as he put his own hand has against the Canadian's. Matthew's eyes opened slowly.

"But you're never just... ignored... Sometimes... I pretend you all see me. That I'm not just a sh-shadow... That you guys want my opinion..."

Arthur winced slightly.

"I'm sorry we do that Mathew... I do want your opinion, but when I go to ask you Francis interrupts and then I forget... I'm so sorry..." Arthur said quietly, guilt eating away at him. Matthew forced a smile as tears built in his eyes. His hand moved from Arthur's shoulder to readjust his glasses briefly.

"I-I'm used to it..." Matthew tried to reassure the other man.

"You don't deserve it... Least of all from me..." Arthur said, turning away sadly.

"A-Arthur... d-don't w-worry... I'm fine..."

"No, I should worry. I should because... Because..." the Briton couldn't bring himself to say it for he had gone so shy. The moment was lost, for Matthew shoved his hands in his pockets and made a soft sound, looking around.

"I-it's getting late... M-maybe you s-should come over to m-my house..." he suggested.

Arthur nodded, clenching his hand tight around the sharp points of the Maple Leaf key ring until it hurt as he cursed himself under his breath. Falling silent, Matthew motioned for the other man to follow as he began to walk, heading back to his house, tears in his eyes at a moment that could have been but wasn't. Arthur began to loathe himself more and more as he followed Matthew, loathing himself for ruining it again. He had been so close, so darn close!

They walked together in silence until they reached Matthew's house. Arthur because he was too busy hating himself and Matthew because he felt nothing would go right. He searched his pockets for his keys and nearly stabbed himself with them by accident when he did find them. Numbly he pulled them out and slid them into the lock as carefully as he could with how badly he was shaking.

"I-I'm sorry," he said hurriedly to Arthur with a quick glance tossed over his shoulder.

"It's alright..." Arthur said, his teeth chattering together violently. Matthew frowned, the lock finally clicking to show that it was unlocked. He opened it and stepped out of the way so Arthur could enter first, slipping his keys back into his pocket. Arthur nodded silently his thanks, entering the house. With a frustrated sigh, Matthew entered afterwards, closing the door and locking it again before taking off the heavy winter clothing. Arthur stayed in his own long coat as he dusted the snow off his shoulders.

"Cold?" Matthew asked again gently.

"A bit..." came the almost clipped answer. Matthew winced slightly, and he started to his kitchen.

"D-do you want to make some tea? I-I know you like it a certain way..."

Arthur nodded, following Matthew quietly. Once again, a silence grew between them. Kumajiro wandered over to Matthew once he stopped in the kitchen. Arthur steered clear of Kumajiro, knowing the bear hated him with a passion, and sat at the table. The Canadian gently picked up his bear as he started the water, yet another soft sigh slipping from him. Arthur stayed quiet, pulling out a small package from his black leather satchel.

"Are you okay?" Matthew asked, glancing over his shoulder at his guest.

"Fine, fine..." He replied, keeping hold of the package and waiting for the right time.

"Y-you're as quiet as me today..."

"Perhaps..."

"What's bothering you?"

"Just something..."

"You can tell me..." Matthew whispered as he placed a mug of tea in front of Arthur, carefully made to hopefully please the picky Englishman. Arthur smiled slightly, leaving the tea to cool before he drank it.

"I know... But it isn't so much speaking it..." He said softly, sliding the package across the table to Matthew. The other frowned slightly, releasing Kumajiro so he could wander off before taking the package. He looked up at Arthur, confusion swirling in his eyes.

"Just... open it..." He said, sipping at his tea while his eyes looked elsewhere. Matthew did as he was told.

Arthur waited patiently, watching as the handwritten letter slid onto the table in front of the Canadian. Matthew's confusion grew as he picked up the letter, glancing at Arthur only once more before he started to read.

'My dearest Matthew,

For a very long time I have felt a certain feeling towards you no other Briton could replicate despite knowing you won't return it. But I just wanted you to know because I can't explain it with my voice. I can be too shy, like you. I wanted you to know.

That I love you'

Matthew felt a furious blush grace his face, and he found himself incapable of looking up to meet Arthur's eyes. His heart was pounding within his chest and he felt light-headed and dizzy.

Arthur loved him.

He swallowed after a moment before a gentle smile spread across his face. Arthur felt the same way.

Arthur was looking away. Did Matthew return those feelings? Or would he hate him forever?

Slowly, Matthew reached across the table and put his hand over Arthur's. Arthur's eyes went wide, looking over at Matthew. The Canadian gently stroked the back of Arthur's hand, his face still red. He smiled, lost for words. Arthur's cheeks went red as a smile graced his features, his mind going into overdrive.

"I-I... f-feel the s-same..." Matthew managed to get out.

"Y-You d-do?" Arthur asked, his cheeks going even redder. The other nodded shyly. Arthur was overjoyed, smiling as happy tears cascaded down his cheeks. All Matthew could do was smile back, gently wiping away Arthur's tears. Arthur smiled, ever so slightly leaning into the Canadian's touch. Matthew slowly withdrew his hand, smiling at the man sitting across from him. Arthur smiled, wiping away the last of his tears.

"F-feeling b-better?"

"Yeah…" Matthew smiled brightly, his eyes closing. His curl bounced as he leaned back slightly in his chair. To see Arthur smiling again was the best gift he could possibly be given. Arthur smiled.

"Are you not going to look in the rest of the package?"

"Eh?" Matthew blinked before reaching into the package, blushing once more. Arthur chuckled gently, waiting patiently. Matthew carefully pulled out what was left in the package.

It was a small black box, sleek and glossy.

Blue-purple eyes widened slightly. Arthur looked away again as Matthew opened the box. His eyes widened further when the light caught the metal of the ring safely nestled inside the box. Arthur looked over to him out of the corner of his acid green eyes, anxious. Matthew looked up, his face red, and his expression unreadable. Arthur couldn't look at him, scared he'd be rejected.

"A-Arthur?" Matthew called softly.

"Y-Yes, Matthew...?"

"Y-you're... s-serious?"

"Y-Yes..."

Matthew stood, leaving the box on the table as he moved to stand in front of Arthur. Arthur looked up, his eyes hopeful and yet defeated at the same time.

His lips were suddenly captured in a soft kiss.