–Alfred

When I finally got out of the crowd of people and to the terminals, I couldn't see Arthur anywhere. At first I got mad and thought he had left me here when I told him I'd be here around two or three, but then I just decided not to make assumptions. Maybe he went to the bathroom or something because he'd been waiting so long. I pulled my cell phone out of the front pocket in my jeans and flipped open my recent messages. He hadn't sent me anything (probably because he knew I was on a plane) so I figured I'd just message him myself.

To: Artie (:
Sent at 2:43 pm
Heey Artie! I'm in the terminals but idk where u r so message me back :D

Arthur was such a grammar freak I knew he'd be mad about my text to him. I usually try my best to watch how I message him but I was way too tired for that right now. Jet lag's a bitch. :T I've only had it three times now. Coming to England when I was little, going back, and now coming again. There's a lot of back and forth going on here…

My phone vibrated in my hand and I flipped the screen to see I got a message back from him. …Picture message loading? Art never sent me pictures of himself let alone around other people such as an airport. I clicked the accept button and waited for it to fully load on my screen. There was a picture of Arthur curled up on a terminal bench sleeping and a few people looking at him as they passed. I tried not to laugh because this also meant someone had his phone and knew where he was. Thinking of it that way, kind of made me scared.

Until, of course, I scroll down and saw the message that was typed along with the picture.

From: Artie (:
Received at 2:47 pm
Oui Mon Chéri. He is very tired from waiting forever for your arrival.

I should have known it was Francis being a creep to Arthur like he always was. That seems to be the guy's specialty. I don't know what his motives are but for some reason it made me angry when he hung all over Artie like he does. Maybe it was just me being too possessive but still… I didn't like it.

I looked back to the picture and spotted the terminal sign he was in. terminal B huh? Why wouldn't he just come to A? I mean, he knows I like the letter A because that's what letter my name starts with! :D But anyways, I made my way back into the airport and walked over to terminal B's sliding glass door. A gust of air hit my face as I walked out and sure enough, there was my Brit.

And next to him sat the French freak. He looked at me with a huge perverted grin plastered on his face and I shuffled my way through the crowd of people to greet him. "Why the hell do you just take his phone?" My greeting to him may not have been the nicest it could have been, but oh well, it worked.

Francis's deep blue eyes hinted at a smile when he faked a frown. "How could you say zat? Arzur is my friend, no?" He placed his hand dramatically over his heart and took a step back. He really pissed me off sometimes. "Well I'm really tired so could you tell me where Artie's car is?" The Frenchman looked puzzled then simply smiled at me.

"'ow should I know? I just stumbled across 'im while I was waiting to pick up my Canadian from 'is flight~" I stared at him in shock for a moment. Matthew and him were really still dating? How did they even hold a long distance relationship? I guess it must take a lot of love and trust… I guess you could say I respected Francis for that. He was really dedicated…

"Well I should be going~ I'll see you anozer time Alfred…" I waved half heartedly at him as he walked away then looked down to the real reason I came here. Arthur looked so exhausted… It was kind of adorable how he could fall asleep in public with so many people around staring at him though… and it kinda didn't seem like him. Maybe he changed a lot while I was gone. I mean, it has been eight years!

Last I remembered his car was a light green from the picture he sent me of it… And it was a Camry? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what it was… That's kind of a girly car huh? I can't picture a man saying 'Oh my gosh! You guys wanna go for a spin in my new Camry?!' :I Yeah no… the picture just isn't coming to mind.

I carefully picker Arthur up and held him bridal style walking into the parking lot full of cars. He was super light! Like, hell, he can't weigh a pound over 115! And he's kinda small in my arms. Not kid small but small for an adult. If he were awake right now, he'd see just how strong I am… Not even breaking a sweat carrying around a 21-year-old! :D

Just as I thought I found Artie's car, a soft muffle came from the man in my arms. Arthur looked up at me in shock when his eyes refocused and his mouth opened. He must have been at a loss for words seeing me so tall and buff. Aw yeah, I'm sexy and I know it ;D! "Alfred…?" I grinned at him excitedly. I loved hearing his accent in person! I almost found it attractive, but that would be homo! Ha! Me, wanting to get it in with a guy? The apocalypse would come before I did…(Pun intended ;3)

"Hey, Artie! You're sure tired, huh?" His green eyes widened and a blush spread across his cheeks when he realized I was holding him. "P-Put me down, you…!" I set him down at his request and handed him his keys. "I was just gonna drive you home since you look so sleepy~" The Brit scoffed and pressed the unlock button on his car. The trunk popped up and he held out his hand for my luggage. His hand was so tiny compared to mine! And he calls himself older than me!?

"I think I win in the height contest by the way…" I smirked down at him mischievously while he closed my bags in the trunk. "I see. So you have. Well I'm still far more organized and intelligent than you will ever be; I think that trumps all competitions…" Well that hurt! D:

-Arthur

I finally felt complete with Alfred sitting beside me in the passenger seat of my car. If this had been like any of the Romance novels I've read, we'd have kissed on arrival and drove home holding hands. Seeing as how we are nothing close to lovers, to Alfred anyways, it ended up being an old crack comedy gig. Me getting carried to my car by someone younger than me and driving home getting asked a million questions.

Honestly, he acts like we haven't been keeping in contact with each other for years! Ever since he left it's been non-stop emailing and telephone calls. Even the occasional letter was sent from my home to his and vice versa! Yet all he could talk about was how I've been lately and how things are going at work and how I've spent my time.

He should definitely know by now that I have no social life even if he knows nothing else… I haven't had any friends other than him; except for the not-so-often friendly room-mate… sometimes his mind slacked in more ways than one! How could he forget his friend was lonely as ever the whole time he was gone? I only told him how alone I was and how much I missed him every other letter sent.

…After thinking that to myself do I only just realize how pathetic that was of me? I really need to get a wider ranged social life. This American will surely, without a doubt, be the death of me.

"So Arthur, you got a girlfriend yet?" Still finds time to crack a joke in his exhausted stupor… I swear he needs to grow up and face the facts. I'm not meant to hold a relationship… with anyone but him. "No Alfred. I don't think you quite understood me when I said I 'lived alone'…" He let out an obnoxiously loud laugh and pressed his hand against the dashboard. "You don't need to be living with someone if you're dating!"

"Oh I'm sorry; I forgot that Americans weren't fond of settling down…" After I had made that last statement, Alfred seemed to lose interest in talking. Had I really gone and screwed up the whole time Alfred's going to be out here? I mean, he's always telling me how he's waiting for the right one so I guess I must have hurt his feelings… Was he actually that sensitive? "Alfred… I apologize. I guess I'm just a bit agitated from waking up so early after being drunk only to find your flight was delayed." Alfred looked away from the window curiously.

"Why were you even drinking? We've had this discussion before… If you're feelin' down and don't feel like you have anyone to talk to, talk to me! No drinking… Especially with the French dude." I took a deep breath and gripped the leather steering wheel. "There are some things I just can't speak to you about." Why did I even bother telling him? Damn me and my guilt. He's so lucky I can't lie to him, or he'd know a lot less about me. "What wouldn't you be able to talk to me about…?"

Now it was my turn to go quiet. It stayed awkwardly silent between us for several minutes until Alfred spoke out to break the uncomfortable atmosphere. "So, we gonna go see a movie tonight or something like we used to?" I was definitely grateful for the change of subject. Now if only I knew what films were playing later on… "Of course we can. You'd just have to check on the web to see what times." Alfred chuckled under his breath at how I say the internet. I don't understand where they even came up with that name so I prefer the web.

"Great. And, Artie… Thanks, for letting me stay with you. You're a great friend." My breath caught in my throat and I smiled. "It's no problem at all love." I'm seen as a 'great friend' to him. I hate loving a straight man… It hurts so much because I know that he's leaving in 2 weeks and after he's gone, we'll still be friends. What will I do when he finds 'the one'? I can't even answer that because that's what he is to me. And it will only end with him being 'the one that got away'.

"Whoa! Slow down Arthur! There's a speed limit ya' know!" My saddened stupor faded away and I checked my speedometer on the car to see I was going a little over 60 miles per hour. "What are you talking about? This is a perfectly good speed…" Yeah for the highway! Dude, were in a school zone." Oh… I slightly pushed on the breaks and after I had reduced my speed by about 40 miles per hour, Alfred let go of the arm of the seat. He looked at me like I had lost it.

"What's wrong dude, seriously? Because if you're gonna be pissed the whole time I'm here—"I'm sorry…." Alfred crossed his arm and gestured his hand to go on. "I just… I missed you and I'm a bit up tight right now." He looked at me for quite a long time before letting out a breath and sitting back in his seat. "Fine Artie…" Not the happiest sounding response but at least he'd stop talking…

Sitting in silence for the hour before we get back to my flat may give me some time to cool down and ponder my options…

-Alfred

I tried not to look aver at Arthur while he drove but I couldn't help glancing. I mean, I've seen him mad and all be he seems pissed today. Did he actually not want me to stay with him? I mean, that was the last thing I had thanked him about before he nearly ran over all the school children! (Also, have you seen the uniforms the kids in England wear? Damn I'd want to get hit by a speeding car if I had to wear that! XDD)

Arthur's small frame was tensed with irritation (I think its irritation anyways) and his hands were gripping and ungripping the steering wheel. Man did he look wound up. I don't even know what I did other than carry him to his car and make him wait forever! D:

I leaned my head against the window, staring at nothing in particular out the clear glass. The grass here was definitely as green as I remembered it to be… Arthur and I used to run through the grass in front of his mom's house and get in so much trouble for scaring the horses. Thinking about how much fun Arthur used to be makes me kinda sad… He got all grumpy when I left. Don't get me wrong, he's always been kinda a stick in the mud… but he used to smile a lot more.

Arthur drove past a green arrow that said 'Oxford'. I assumed that was the city he lived in now and smiled in excitement. I couldn't wait to see his apartment (or as he calls it 'flat' :T). Man it's hard to believe he's already an adult with a job! That sounds so boring~ I know he's like 3 years older than me but it just seems so weird because I remember when we were both just in school together…

"Artie~ why can't you walk me home?" I tugged on his sleeve as we walked down the path to each of our houses. He looked at me with scarlet dusting his cheeks.

"You're 9 years old Alfred, that's why. You're perfectly capable of making it home safely by yourself…" I puffed out my lip in discontent. "But I like walking with you." I heard Arthur sigh and look over to see him staring at the ground.

"Alfred. Do you like me?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Of course I do stupid. Why would I talk to you if I didn't like you?" Arthur stopped in front of the picket fence entrance to his large front yard. He took hold of both my hands and his face took on a serious look that made my cheeks heat up. "No, I mean like-""Arthur James Kirkland!"

Arthur's head whipped around to see his mom standing in the door wearing oven mitts and holding a fresh batch of scones. Arthur dropped my hands from their previous position and turned to face his mother. "Yes mum, I'll be there in a moment."

He hugged me goodbye and opened the gate, closing it behind him swiftly, and waved good-bye to me from his porch once more before walking in the door…

"Alfred…" I opened my eyes to find we were in a parking lot to a medium-sized building. "We're here so wake up and help me take in your luggage…" I blinked once more before unbuckling my seat belt and pushing open the passenger side door.

Author's note: Weew~! Added France into this whole situation XD Only briefly right now but he's too much fun to leave out so he'll definitely be back. Anyways... Flash backs :DDD I love them so I may use them a few times... Hopefully this one's a little longer so it's a little better =w=U
**Oxford is a VERY pretty place in England... you wanna see some pretty buildings? Google that shit! :DDD
((I don't own Hetalia or the Characters obviously~))