Despite how much snow fell from the sky and more that was still yet to come, both Ivan's and Alfred's jobs demanded their presence at their workplace. To Ivan it was expected but not so much for Alfred. He groaned when his manager called and demanded for him to arrive on time despite the roads being frozen over.

The convenient part of living in New York City was that mostly everywhere could be walked to. Alfred hated to admit it, but after moving to the big city when he was younger, he lost quite a few pounds from biking and running to destinations instead of driving.

The American wasn't fat to begin with, but loosing a few did help his confidence when removing his clothing or having sex. Though that overwhelming feeling of being bigger than most was still pinned into his head. After being teased through middle school about his chubby cheeks and stomach, Alfred took any comment about his current weight very sensitively. Both Ivan and Arthur learned of this the hard way whenever they would comment on the blonde's body. Of course neither of them would be insulting, but admiring the younger's figure.

Alfred had put on an extra pair of clothes that he had always stashed at Ivan's in case of spending the night. He was staying over so often that Ivan would bring up several times during his stay that he should just move in with him already. Alfred had seriously thought it over multiple times but he couldn't ever agree on the thought selling his condo. He would tell the Russian the truth and feel guilty at the look of disappointment on his face that he'd rather live alone than with him. With Alfred refusing to leave his home, Ivan offered to move in with him but the answer was always no. It wasn't like Alfred didn't want Ivan to move in with him, it's just he couldn't have someone else sleeping and living happily in the same place where he once had with Arth-

"Fredka! You ready to leave now? I do not want to make you and I late for work." Alfred heard his boyfriend call for him from downstairs where he was waiting on him probably near the front door.

"I change my mind!" Alfred yelled back to him, hiding from sight around the corner next to the stairway. "I think I'll stay here all day and sleep!" it was quiet for a few seconds before he heard a reply.

"Nyet."

Alfred giggled but stayed in position. "What if I stay in your bed and wait for you to return home from work?"

"My answer is still same. Now let us go before we both get in trouble-"

"Did I mention I would be in your bed naked?" he covered his mouth from laughing any louder and giving himself away. He had to take a deep breath to calm himself before continuing. "Just laying in your spot, nude and cold. Counting the minutes till my big bear comes home and warms me up." He froze to hear any sounds from below and was able to make out the sound of Ivan shuffling around in his boots. Finally the older responded after what felt like an hour to the playful American.

"Is this how you are now?"

Of course Alfred wasn't in bed naked. He was fully dressed and ready to walk out the door that very second. But playing with his boyfriend and tempting him always was a good way to start out his day.

"I just might be." He purred. "Guess you'll find when you get home and come to bed." He stopped again to listen but heard nothing. Alfred just figured Ivan was going over it in that ingenious mind of his. With that in mind, the blonde continued. "I hope you'll be thinking about me while at work because I'm sure as hell will be thinking about you. You bursting through the door in that sexy Russian coat of yours, not even bothering to remove any clothing as you take me cold and raw-"

"Lair."

"Sweet baby jesus!" Alfred shouted when a stern tone came from next to him all of a sudden. He turned around and saw Ivan standing on the top step with his arms crossed over that black long pea coat that he had just described as sexy. "I-I didn't even hear you come up." He squeaked when the Russian took a step closer to him while casting him one of his famous icy glares.

Ivan scanned him up and down briefly before frowning. "You said to be without clothes and in bed. You are in neither of those."

Alfred stopped backing up and smiled up at his boyfriend flirtatiously. Obviously Ivan only came up the stairs because he honestly thought Alfred was naked. Maybe he could get away with staying home after all on this snowy morning. "I can do both for ya if you let me stay home?" he walked up to the larger and wrapped his arms around his broad coated shoulders. "Whadda say? Let me stay here?"

Ivan put his lips together tightly and hummed as if thinking it over. "Hmm nyet." He quickly answered then scooped up Alfred into his arms and turned from the hallway to make their way down the steps. Alfred removed his hold from his neck and crossed his arms almost childishly and started murmuring about it being to damn cold to leave a bed.

Once they got outside, Ivan locked the door with one hand then continued to carry the younger blond over to his car and set him down on the ground next to the passenger side. "Will I have to place you inside myself or can you do as much without running? Though you would not get very far with ground covered in ice."

"Ha-Ha-Ha! Very funny!" the American faked laughed and grabbed hold of the cars door handle. "Just because I can't ice skate like you snow loving Russians, doesn't mean I can't walk on stupid little thin pieces of ice-uff!"

Ivan smirked while shaking his head at his clumsy boyfriend who had just slipped on a patch of ice while taking a step to pull the door open. "Maybe keeping you inside would have been for the better."

Alfred mimicked his words in a horrible Russian accent before putting his hands in the air for help. Ivan rolled his eyes but grabbed hold and effortlessly pulled the American back onto his feet and held him there as he got his footing. "You ok?" Ivan tilted his head down to at level with Alfred's.

"Hit my head, but nothing a kiss can't fix." Alfred couldn't help but to smile when the Russian actually pulled his head close and started kissing the top of his head all over. Alfred blushed and started swatting the man away. "I meant on the lips, Vanya!" Alfred laughed aloud as he said it. His laughing suddenly stopped when he was pushed back against the wet and cold car. He looked up and was met with Ivan's cold, yet kind light violet eyes gazing upon him. Alfred swallowed before letting his eyes flutter closed when Ivan slowly moved in to place a compassionate kiss on his chipped quivering lips.

~.~

After more time in the driveway kissing than meaning to, Ivan had to speed and drop Alfred off in front of his condo with a quick peck on the lips before zipping off. Alfred stood on the sidewalk watching his boyfriend's car drive off till its backlights faded into the distance. "Jeez its cold out here…" his teeth chattered together as he attempted to pull his jacket up over his nose.

The streets were mostly empty except for the few that dared to drive and the taxis that were just doing what they had to for a living. Not many people were on the white littered sidewalk that morning. There usually weren't any people at all walking around since the part where he lived was in an exclusive part of the city.

The rich were his neighbors but he has failed have an actual conversation with any of them during the 5 years that he had lived there. But in all honestly, Alfred didn't care much about becoming friends with any of them. Ever since Arthur broke up with him and moved away, he's been receiving nothing but pitiful glares from his so-called 'friendly neighbors'. One even had the nerve to mutter the word 'whore' when he walked by. Alfred knew that people probably thought of him as a gold digger just because he was living among the rich when he came from dirt, all thanks to Arthur. See, there's another miserable effect that Arthur had caused him after he left him behind.

Alfred wrapped his arms around himself tightly as he made his way over to the stairs to enter his lush condo. The thought of defrosting his toes and hoping in a nice warm bathtub distracted him from noticing a car parked in front of his building that usually wasn't parked there.

Fumbling his fingers on the doors electronic keypad, it took the blonde several tries to actually get the buildings pass code right and let him in the tempting warm lobby. Once inside, Alfred waved to the front desk worker/ his only friend in the whole building. As Alfred walked by a group of animal coated women, he couldn't help but feel their stares and hear his name being said excitedly amongst the group of ladies. It was odd to have some of the people actually acknowledge him anymore. Sure, they had for a few weeks when Arthur had left but that only lasted till they grew bored and went back to ignoring him.

He stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the 21st floor where his condo was located. He hated being so damn high up but Arthur insisted that being higher helped drawn out the annoying city noises from below.

The red flashy light finally blinked 21 and the American took a step from the elevator and rounded the corner to make way to his housing. While turning the corner he almost ran into one of the building maids who seemed just as surprised to see him. He smiled up at him like supposed to for all guest but this smile was different. Almost as though he knew something about Alfred that he didn't even know yet.

"Good day, Mr. Jones." He bowed his head quickly to him.

Alfred looked at him confused till it hit him who the small man was. It was his and Arthur's old Lithuanian housemaid! Though after Arthur left, he never came back to clean…

Before he could respond, he was off down the hall with a slight swing in his hips. A dangerous thought came to Alfred's mind but he vanished the idea before he could start to actually consider it. But as he unlocked his door and grabbed hold of the handle, the thought came creeping back.

Impossible. Arthur wouldn't just move back in with the delicate state the two were in. Would he…?

Wanting to deny the assumptions and get the thrill over with, Alfred wildly swung his door wide open.

"Oh thank god." He breathed, brushing his hair back with his nipped fingers. The room was completely empty to his relief.

He entered causally and kicked the door shut behind him before he walked into the open and airy living room. Windows touched from the ceiling to the floor, giving to room an even larger feel to it. Alfred walked over to the full-length glass and shivered at the beautiful sight of the city blanketed in snow. The blonde closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his sides in an attempt for self comfort. Standing there taking in an amazing sight such as snow in the early morning was something he never liked to adore alone. He never had to though, till three years ago.

The living rooms fireplace would already be lit as he entered the bright room from just waking up. Arthur would warm the room for him so he wouldn't be greeted with a chill in the air on cold winter mornings. Legs still wobbly from getting up, the American would walk over to the large windows and gaze out at the falling snow that danced in the open air. Being 21 stories up made the site even more spectacular with its distance from the ground before the flurries would crash into streets. It was calming how silent the world was when so high up and away from everything.

Distracted with the sight before him, Alfred would always find himself startled when a pair of warm slim arms would wrap around his waist and pull him close to another's body. The smell of hot chocolate filled the air but the person's scent always smelt of warm tea. Alfred would smile and lean his head into the others as they buried their face into his neck. Sweet comments would be exchanged followed by each other's chuckles and quick kisses after every word.

Soon those kisses would turn passionate and words more exclusive and meaning filled. The arms around his waist would tighten and full his body harder against his lovers. Alfred would let himself be dragged away from the window and leaned slowly onto the couch that rested in front of the fireplace. Red flames danced upon pale cheeks and in emerald adoring eyes. It was entrancing to not look away from or turn down what was to come next. The fire warmed the air as his lovers heated skin would warm his body with every daring touch.

Alfred's eyes snapped open and his far away memory was put to rest when something brushed against his legs. He looked down and smiled when his eyes were met with a pair of two big blue ones.

"There's my little Hero." Alfred smiled when his pet cat, Hero, mewled loudly and continued to stare up at him. "I'm guessing you're hungry too, huh?" The cat's tail flicked from side to side before it stood up and trotted its way over to its bowl with the American following close behind.

Hero stopped right in front of his bowl then eagerly looked up at his owner. As Alfred walked through the living room and entered his kitchen, he couldn't help but notice something was different in his surroundings. He shrugged it off and proceeded to the refrigerator where he stored Hero's canned cat food. He grabbed at the doors handle but before he opened it something caught his eye.

"What's this?" he mumbled. A neon pink familiar sticky note was stuck right on the steel surface of his refrigerator. Disbelief crossed his features as he removed the note from the door as it slicked off. The last time he'd seen a pink sticky note was three years ago when he and Arthur still had their housemaid. He would leave them in different spots around their condo to tell where he cleaned or places where their cats caused trouble.

Good morning Mr. Jones,

I have done all the duties that I was assigned for the day (including feeding Hero so don't let him fool you). It is nice to be working with you both again and I hope to continue being useful.

–Toris

Alfred read the note over several times to make sure he didn't read it wrong. Since when did he hire Toris to come back and clean? He sure couldn't afford to keep paying the man so who called and signed the contract?

Time went by till a meow pulled him out of his thoughts. Alfred shook his head and turned to his cat who was waving his fluffy tail high in the air. "You thought you'd get a second breakfast, didn't ya?" He laughed when Hero's tail dropped and he looked away as if disappointed. "Yeah that's what I thought…"

Just then his phone started to ring from across the room where he set down his bag. He patted his pockets briefly before he followed the sound into the other room. He fumbled with it in his hands before quickly bringing it up to his ear and answering.

"Hello? Hello." As soon as the person on the other line started speaking, Alfred yanked the phone away from his ear because they were practically shouting. Might as well been on speaker.

"Hey loser! Where do you think you are right now?! I'm totally covering your un-awesome ass from getting kicked or something!" Alfred's best friend and fellow employee, Gilbert, complained to him loudly.

"Yeah, I know! I'll be there as quick as I can dude! Just uh try to cover for me a bit longer? I kinda over slept this morning and wasn't really feeling to good so-"

"You got ass pounded last night and slept over at that crazy Russians house didn't you?"

Alfred blushed and was glad he wasn't having the conversation in person even though Gilbert constantly talked about all kinds of kinky stuff to him.

"You're a real ass, ya know that Gil?"

"kesesese! I knew it! Ah man I just had a real nasty image of that hairy man all over you and stuff! Well there goes my breakfast!"

Alfred rolled his eyes but continued to blush with his friend having dirty thoughts of him and his boyfriend. He was about to tell him to knock it off till the blonde heard a knocking come from his front door. It must have been Toris returning to pick something up he left behind or maybe his payment….hopefully it was just some cleaning supplies.

"Listen Gilbert, I gotta go but tell boss I'll be there as soon as I can, kay? Thanks a ton for covering for me." He didn't wait for his friend to reply as he ended the call and threw it off some where in the couches direction. The knocking came again and Alfred called out he'd be right there.

Hero was already at the door and was scratching at it excitingly as if the pizza man were there. "Shoo Hero! It's not a delivery man…"

Alfred didn't bother to look to the peek hole since he already had a pretty good idea who was on the other side of the door. It was off how Toris didn't speak to him in the hall earlier, so this would give him a good chance to ask why he returned.

He swung the door open with a wide smile on his face as he expected to meet with his favorite Lithuanian.

"Hey Toris! Ya forget something?" But as soon as Alfred opened his eyes, he completely froze.

"Hello Alfred. Wonderful snowfall we're getting, aren't we?" His accent was smooth when it flowed off his tongue as the cold air from the hallway wiped past him. "Hope this doesn't sound intruding but do you mind if I may come in? Though, this condo is still under my name so I suppose that question was potent."

Alfred stood there speechless with his mouth agape. Was this really happening to him right now? Hero brushed up against his leg as he peeked out the door to see who was there.

"I was going to text you but I wanted it to be a surprise." He smiled softly and looked away as if nervous.

"Arthur…W-what are you doing here?" Alfred breathed, dropping his hand from the door handle and let it fall to his side.

Arthur grinned and took a step closer to the younger blonde who hesitantly took a step back. "I'm here to speak with you about something rather important." He took another step closer and quickly glanced at the little cat he had actually come to miss.

Alfred's eyes flickered to the large leather bag in the Englishman's right hand and another sitting on the ground behind him in the hall. He gulped but nodded.

"And that is…?"

Arthur smiled as he let out a long breath. Alfred quickly smelt the scent of tea on the man's breaths. Earl Grey to be exact.
"I've decided that I'd like to move back in with you, Alfred."

AN: What can I say? The man's a fighter.

Alfred: "Nope!" *Slams door in his face then runs for cover.*

Me: *pulls back covers on the bed and gestures for him to come over with a finger*