A/N: This is a shorter chapter, because I'm trying to do daily updates this weekend.

Sunday….

Arthur sat down at his regular place on the bar, breathing in the rich, coffee-scented air that reminded him so much of a certain-

"Hey Artie." Alfred walked over and slid a cup of black tea with one sugar across the bar. Arthur deftly caught it and smirked.

"Rather flamboyant. You could have just passed it to me."

Alfred pouted innocently. "What's the fun in owning this joint if I can't do that at least once?"

"You really should act your age." Arthur scolded, taking a sip of his tea.

"Speaking of acting their age, who are you and what did you do to Arthur's wardrobe? I hardly recognized you."

Arthur looked down at his casual blue jeans and t-shirt emblazoned with the Union Jack. Admittedly, this was significantly different from his usual suit and tie, but even a gentleman has a punk side. "Git, I'm still Arthur and these are my clothes."

Alfred shook his head in mock amazement. "Could've fooled me. Now, you ready for your surprise?"

Sighing and trying to restrain himself from correcting the American's grammar, Arthur replied, "Yes, quite."

"Then close your eyes."

Grumbling about idiocy, Arthur did so. He heard the soft chatter of coffee shop patrons and the bubbling of brewing drinks. There was also some shuffling going on behind the counter.

"Okay, now open!" The voice came from farther away. His curiosity piqued.

Arthur did so, and his eyes beheld a…..rather ordinary slip of paper. His eyes quickly read the words on it:

Meet me in the back room.

Arthur rolled his eyes, trudging off to the door marked "Employees Only!" with a rather artistic eagle on it, no doubt Alfred's work. He could have sworn that the long-haired brunette sitting across the room was watching him intensely, but he was probably just imagining it.

Opening the door, he stepped into the pitch black storage room. The door behind him closed quickly and before he knew it a soft pair of lips was on his own, tasting of coffee and chocolate, warm and full of vibrancy. It didn't take any guesses to know who this was.

"Alfred…" Arthur whispered, finding his lover in the dark and holding him. Alfred hummed in response, sitting down on the bags of coffee stacked up, feeling the beans beneath him shift in the bag as the Brit's and his weight displaced them.

"Surprised?" Alfred asked quietly, delicately speaking right next to the Englishman's ear.

Arthur gave a soft laugh. "I was sort of expecting you to do something like this."

"But you weren't expecting exactly this, right?"

"Well…no."

"Then it's a surprise." His hand clasped Arthur's in the dark, leaving the warmth tingling on his palm. "Y'know, I never said it properly, but Arthur, I love you. I love the way you laugh, scold me, correct my words, get so worked up about some things…" Alfred trailed off, the little light brushes and touches he was giving carried across the rest of what he wanted to say.

Arthur sighed, a relaxed smile on his face even though it was invisible in the dark. "I love you too. The way you never stop that bloody mouth of yours, do everything your own way, your moronic, beautiful smile…" He stopped, as Alfred kissed him again, sending shivers of pleasure down his spine and speeding up the pounding of his heart. It was like the darkness of the room set a magical haze over the scene, creating a gentle hiding place in the darkness where no one could judge them.

Alfred broke away, holding the peaceful Brit in his arms and rocking back and forth slightly. "I wonder, would it be okay if we went out?"

"Of course, you bloody idiot." Arthur nuzzled the American's warm, toned neck.

"I'm glad. Can I take you out to dinner tonight? But no booze." He waved a teasing finger at Arthur, poking him in the shoulder.

"I have no will to get hungover again, thank you very much!" Arthur said, completely truthful.

"Pick you up around eight?"

"Sure."

"Now, all you have to do is get out of here unsuspiciously…"

"That's not even a word, Alfred. Are you trying to make me correct you?"

"Maybe. Anyways, just take the back entrance." Pushing aside the bags of coffee, Alfred fumbled around for the doorknob, eventually finding it amid the dust and cobwebs.

"Where does that even go?" Arthur was a bit dubious, for all he knew it could lead to the sewer system.

Opening the door and allowing a bright afternoon sun to blind them both, Alfred said, "It used to be used for deliveries, but we haven't needed anything recently, so I'll use it for an escape route."

Arthur smirked, still shielding his eyes. "When you're running from paperwork?"

The barista turned and smiled. "More or less. Or I just want to visit you."

Arthur felt his face redden. His boyfriend cupped his tinted face in his hands, rubbing a thumb lovingly over his cheekbones. "You're so cute when you blush."

The Brit would have normally batted this away, but he placed his hand over the others. "I'll see you later, then?" His voice seemed a little breathier, more delicate.

"Of course. And if not, then come by the shop tomorrow. Maybe you'll try the coffee." Alfred smiled, removing his hand and kissing Arthur lightly on the cheek. Blue eyes met green, giving a silent farewell for now.

Arthur felt the corners of his mouth lift up. Stepping down the delivery stairs, he called back. "I'm more of a tea person."

The American grinned, waving goodbye. "Don't I know it."

A/N: Okay, this will be the end if no one wants a new chapter, cause I guess this is a nice place to drop the storyline. Review or PM me if you think otherwise, because I'd like to know your opinion.