I completely forgot about this story! But I am back now and I'll be updating much more often!

As always, I don't own SNK or any of its characters.

Armin found himself feeling oddly happy as he stood there, waiting for Jean. He was trying to question his reasons for even being there but he found himself not caring. He had this intense desire to just chat with the brunette.

Suddenly Armin remembered that this could possibly be Jean's first visit to London and he might get lost looking for the park.

He began to search for the brunette and even thought of calling him, when he heard someone call out to him.

"Found you!" Jean ran to him, slightly out of breath. Armin didn't understand why he felt so happy to see him. It was probably the novelty of getting to meet someone for the first time and starting a relationship from scratch.

"Does that mean you've been looking for some time?" The blonde bent forward teasingly. Jean gave an embarrassed snort.

"Pft. Of course not. I mean, I've been to this park, like… never." That made Armin laugh. Jean seemed to relax as well.

"Well, this is one of my favorite places in the world so I'll show you around." The two began to walk side by side.

"I guess that must really mean a lot considering you travel for a living." Jean mused. He watched Armin's face become a bit distant and fond.

"I used to spend lots of time here when I was a kid. My best childhood memories originate from this place, so that makes me quite biased."

Armin began to point out little things about the park that anyone else would have ignored. He knew things like which tree was the oldest and where the ducks would hide their eggs. Jean found himself oddly fascinated.

The more they talked the more Armin enjoyed Jean's company. He was funny and silly and yet so incredibly genuine. It was rare in a person and the blonde truly liked it.

After walking around for some time, Armin took his arm to guide him to the coffee shop. The establishment was small and had a warm atmosphere. A few people were sitting and talking and it just gave the feeling that there was no rush. Armin turned to Jean with an apologetic look.

"The cashier is a friend of mine so he might be a bit annoying. His name is Connie. Don't mind him." There was a boy with a buzz cut at the counter. The moment they neared him, he perked up.

"Armin! Good to see you, man!" Jean was thinking about how the guy had a really big smile when he felt the boy's eyes on him. Something changed in them and he opened his mouth to say something but Armin interrupted him before he could.

"Did you talk with Sasha already?" That took his attention off of Jean for a moment.

"Yeah I already got together a bread basket for her." He grinned and pointed over his shoulder with his thumb at a basket with a pretty ribbon.

"You know her well."

Armin gave Jean a recommendation, which the brunette followed. When they finished ordering, Connie couldn't hold back anymore.

"So what's up?! Is he your boyfriend?! Are you on a date?!" Jean felt his face grow warm at the excitement in the boy's voice but Armin was completely unaffected.

"Connie, if I don't hear the words 'one mocha latte coming up' in the next 10 seconds I will get rid if your 'friends and family' flights discount."

"One mocha latte coming up!"

Armin smiled and pulled Jean away from the counter.

"Told you he was an idiot. He's a good friend, though. Sasha, the other flight attendant, is his girlfriend."

"What's up with the bread?"

"She is gluttony personified."

"Charming."

Soon they got their drinks and Armin ignored the wink Connie sent his way. They sat at a table and talked some more.

"So, Jean, what brings you to London? You are obviously not from here."

"What made that so obvious?"

"Well, your lack of an English accent is a pretty big give away. Also your name and hairstyle yell "French"."

"Nice. You got me."

"So are you just visiting or what?"

"I'm staying with a friend's family for some time. They're all really great people who have for some reason decided to accept me as one of their own. I feel kinda bad for them, actually." The brunette leaned his head against his hand. Armin laughed.

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, I don't think you're that bad."

"Gee, thanks." Yet for some reason that made his chest feel warm.

As they left the building, Connie called out.

"Have fun on your date!"

The door was already half closed so Armin couldn't say something back. He rolled his eyes and continued walking. It wasn't even that he was against the idea of being on a date with Jean, it was just Connie's immaturity about it. But wait, shouldn't Armin be more against the idea of dating Jean? This wasn't a date, they were just hanging out weren't they? Did coffee automatically mean date? Would that even be a bad thing?

Armin was distracted by a stupid joke of Jean's and he suddenly found himself not caring about anything at the moment.

For another hour they stayed at the park. Armin took the brunette to his favorite spot and they both lied down looking up and the leaves of the biggest tree.

"I always thought it sounded like the tress were chatting, you know, when the wind blows through the leafs. I used to make up conversations for them, pretend like I was the only one who could understand them. The thing was that anyone would be able to if they just… listened."

They both stayed in silence and Jean listened to the leaves. He wasn't the kind of person who stayed still and contemplated these things.

Maybe that's what I need… to take it slow… focus on what's important…

He turned to look at Armin. The boy's eyes were closed and he had a peaceful look on his face. Jean smiled fondly as he wondered what the trees were telling him.

It was around lunchtime now, and they were walking again. The distance between them was almost nonexistent and they both enjoyed the feeling of the other's shoulder against their own. Neither of them were doing it consciously, though.

Armin was telling Jean a story about a time the airplane's door flew off it's hinges during landing, when the blonde's stomach made a noise. Jean froze then started laughing.

"Was that you? Oh my god!"

"W-what? What's so funny?" Armin was blushing for some reason.

"That was the cutest little stomach growl I've ever heard! It was like puppy growl!"

"It's not my fault your stomach sounds like a whale!"

"Can you do it again? I want to record it."

"What's wrong with you!" The two of them laughed and a comfortable silence fell between them.

As they continued walking they both realized that it was time to part and yet neither of them wanted to. They finally stopped and looked at each other.

"What are you doing after this?" Jean asked shyly.

"I'm going to go visit my grandpa. I go see him every time I come to London…" Half of Armin said this was a stupid idea but the other half just wanted to stay by Jean's side. "do you… want to come?" The brunette was surprised for a second before a stupid grin appeared on his face.

"Really?"

"Might as well. What better way to know if a relationship has a future than meeting the family on the first date." The words came out of his mouth without thinking, but he didn't regret them. If anything, they felt right.

"So this is a date?" Jean felt almost giddy. Armin smirked before leading the way to their new destination. As they moved away from the park, the nerves began to creep in.

"Won't your grandfather mind if you bring a stranger into his house?" Jean questioned. The blonde sighed.

"Don't worry. If anything, he will be glad I made a friend."

Once they were at the door, Jean's palms were sweating quite a lot. Armin laughed.

"We're not about to declare our engagement, Jean! He doesn't bite, I swear." The brunette was distracted by Armin's words and for a moment he wished they were untrue (the first part only!).

A man in his 70's opened the door. His eyes first landed on the blonde and he gave a welcoming laugh.

"Hello, my boy! Nice of you to drop by!" He gave him a hug.

"I brought some company." Armin said pleasantly. Jean was very proud of the fact that he did not jolt at his sudden mention.

The older man's eyes landed on Jean and a spark of interest was immediately lit.

"Well, that is a surprise. Won't you come in!" Once inside, the man shook Jean's hand. "What's your name, lad?"

"J-jean Kirschtein." He suddenly felt like he was meeting Armin's father and was immediately stressed about the need to have the best impression possible on this man.

"Mercy me! I forgot your surname already! That's alright though, Jean will do for lunch. You will be joining us, right?"

"A-absolutely."

He heard a little giggle coming from his side. Before he could turn to poke Armin in the stomach and tell him not to laugh at him, the blonde followed his grandfather to set the table. Jean went after him and helped as well. Lunch was onion soup which Jean had eaten plenty of times in France and yet it tasted completely different. He liked it.

"So tell me, Jean, how did you two meet?" Grandpa Arlert asked.

"Armin was the attendant in one of my flight." The older man gave a whole hearted laugh.

"Looks like you have me to thank for that! I was the one who convinced him to take the job!"

Jean turned to Armin, interested in the story. The blonde looked annoyed.

"Everyone was so convinced I would be a great flight attendant! I don't even know who thought of it first but suddenly it was the only thing anyone would talk to me about! When I found out even my grandfather was in on it I gave up and decided to give it a try."

"And was I right or was I right?"

The rest of the afternoon passed with ease. Grandpa Arlert was a charismatic man who seemed to take a liking to Jean. The brunette himself began to feel less like he was being judged and more like he was just chatting. The man was very interested in Jean and asked him many things, but by the end the 3 of them were laughing and the atmosphere felt warm and homey.

After lunch, Grandpa Arlert decided a "good old fashion embarrassment" was in order and he brought albums with Armin's baby pictures.

"Are you serious? Are you actually doing this?" The blonde sounded more resigned than anything (also a little amused). The older man ignored him.

"He was a precious little thing. Everyone used to think he was a girl."

"People still think I'm a girl."

"One time I asked a neighbor to look after him and when I returned he was in a dress with little ribbons in his hair! I think I actually have the picture…"

"No, I'm pretty sure I burnt it."

"Oh! Here it is! I think she actually bought it specially for you! It was the same tone of blue as your eyes. How thoughtful."

"Please stop mocking me, grandpa."

Jean couldn't bring himself to laugh at the photo because, even though the situation was hilarious, Armin looked truly adorable. He was sitting on the couch where he had obviously been forced to pose. He was uncomfortably holding on to the fabric of his frilly blue dress while looking down. His face was pink in embarrassment but it only made him look even cuter. He had two ribbons at the sides of his head, which were blue with hanging white threads.

"I'm sorry, Armin…" Jean started.

"Don't say it."

"This…"

"Don't."

"…is the cutest thing I've ever seen."

"I hate you."

After much insistence from Armin's part, the older man put the books away (not before whispering to Jean and promising him a copy of the photo). As he left, Jean's phone began to ring.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?! Do you know what time it is?!" It was Marco and he sounded pissed. "I know you like that guy and all but everyone has been dying to see you and we only said "hi" and "goodnight" yesterday and then you dashed off this morning! You need to spend some time with them, Jean!" In a angry stupor, Marco hanged up after that. Jean blinked in surprise then sighed.

"Everything alright?" Armin asked.

"Yeah." Jean suddenly gave him a teasing smirk. "Looks like it's your turn to meet my family."

Marco's family lived together in one giant house. It had started out with the great grandparents but the family just grew and grew, along with the house, until the building was one of the most well known of the town.

They literally considered Jean family. He was "son" or "nephew" or "our Jean". Armin's heart was warmed by such obvious sign of affection. He was glad Jean was surrounded by people who cared for him.

The moment Jean had entered the house with Armin at his side, everyone had gone crazy.

"Jean! Son! Who is that? Why didn't you tell us you were bringing someone!"

"Did he come from France with you?"

"He's so cute! How long have you known each other?"

"He's a he, right? No offence, darling, but you could pass for a princess!"

They were all so outspoken, Armin joked to Jean that he was surprised they weren't actually related. Marco was embarrassed beyond belief.

"I'm so sorry about everyone! I'm Marco, by the way. I'm a friend of Jean's."

"It's nice to meet you. Don't worry! They're lovely." Marco's mother heard and imidately appeared at his side.

"Oh what lovely manners! This one is English! Why don't you sit at my side for lunch?" Armin was too polite to say they had already eaten, and Jean was too embarrassed.

At least he isn't meeting my family from France. Wow, now that would be a mess.

They all talked until it grew late. They asked Armin many things about himself and the blonde entertained them. Everyone kept saying what a cute couple him and Jean made and both of them would just smile and say nothing.

"Marco, why don't you get a cute one like this one?" One of the younger cousins said. (Armin sighed at the amount of times he had been called cute today).

The blonde truly did enjoy himself and was sad to go. Jean offered to take him to the hotel, but Armin insisted he could take a cab. The brunette walked him outside. They both smiled to each other.

"I really had a great day. Didn't expect all of this to happen but I think it worked out nicely." Armin said with a little laugh. There was a comfortable silence where the two just looked at each other for a moment. Jean spoke.

"So, what are your plans for the rest of the weekend?"

"I'm still free tomorrow. I'm flying to Germany first thing on Monday." Those words tugged at Jean's heart and he suddenly feelt pained at the fact that their time together wasn't going to last. He decided not to think about that for the moment.

"We should do something tomorrow." He said. Armin nodded. His attention was forced away as the cab arrived.

"Let's decide through text. See you tomorrow." The simplicity of the statement seemed to carry an echo of warmth that made both of them smile.

"Yeah. See ya."

Armin opened the door to his hotel room and smiled at the sight of Sasha eating from her bread basket.

"Hey, there."

"Nice of you to show up! I actually thought you wouldn't be coming back today. Got yourself a good one, huh?"

"Shush. Do you want me to tell you about my day or not?"

"Spill!"

Armin chuckled before throwing himself on the bed. He felt his phone vibrate. He took it out of his pocked and looked at the screen where he had just received a good night text from Jean. Armin smiled and realized that he could get used to this.