On Better Terms

Chapter 9

Commentary from the Hetalia Gallery

Francis: Ah Alfred. I'll give you the same advice that I gave dear Ivan in Episode 43: If you want people to like you, just offer them your love! "How do I get to your bed from here?" is what you should be saying. Don't let such a voluptuous woman escape!

Alfred: Oh, pleeease~ I don't need her! Single heroes are even sexier!

Francis: *shakes head* Ah, petit amateur! So sad...

Arthur: France, maybe I should listen to your words. I've been a bachelor for far too long...

Francis: *with glinting eyes* Hehe...

Alfred: What is it...?

Francis: I got it! From now on, I decree that you two are a couple. It's perfect! Alfred needs a lover, and Arthur needs one too!

Arthur: Francis, what was that you said?!

Francis: Um... Uh... Your unicorn is beautiful! *runs off*

Upon opening the door to his house with Alfred right behind, Arthur looked around for Peter. The kid was sitting on the couch, as usual. Arthur rarely saw him off the thing.

Arthur greeted Peter and smiled softly. "We're going out to dinner." It was obvious that both the Kirkland brothers were excited, since this was an absolute treat for them. Alfred didn't know what to think himself. How had one little thing gotten two people so excited?

Peter got dressed in a hurry, though he tried to look his best. He was laughing the whole time, definitely looking forward to the dinner.

Arthur watched his brother with a small smile. He was very grateful to Alfred for inviting them to eat—more so than Alfred would ever know. It was rare to see Peter so happy, and Arthur couldn't help but feel a little jealous for not being able to do that himself. It made him feel like an incompetent guardian. Still, he remembered the custody case that had followed his mother's death, and it had been a long battle. He never regretted winning.

Alfred glanced at his driver and was surprised to see such a fond expression on the usually flustered or agitated face. It was really quite a pleasant change, and it was an expression that he had never seen before. Alfred started to understand the complex relationship between Arthur and his brother.

Alfred had driven them to the restaurant, since he was bad at giving directions and Arthur didn't know where it was. Alfred had always had trouble with maps himself, and he wasn't going to reveal that embarrassing trait to Arthur any time soon.

When they arrived at the expensive looking French restaurant, Arthur and Peter just stopped at the door for a second, staring in awe. Peter's amazed expression quickly turned into an extremely happy one, and he laughed excitedly, grabbing Arthur's and Alfred's hands and almost dashing in.

Alfred laughed and followed, while Arthur just blushed.

The waitress, upon seeing Alfred, smiled and said, "Your regular table, sir?"

Alfred nodded and was led there with their menus. Peter still hadn't let go of either hand. Though he was currently thirteen, he acted like he was nine. He looked like a ten-year-old too, for all other people knew. Peter had been mistaken for Arthur's son a couple of times, even if their age difference was only nine years.

Arthur breathed out in relief when Peter let go in order to sit down. He had been completely aware of the surprised look on the waitress's face when she saw them. He knew immediately that they looked like a couple with a child, and he was sure that wasn't good for both him and Alfred. Especially Alfred, who had a Yekaterina for a girlfriend. Though she looked like a harmless bimbo most of the time, she was Ivan's sister after all. A lot of people often forget the fact that they were related.

Arthur looked down at his plate with great expectancy. He had let Alfred order for both him and Peter since neither of them spoke any French, and that was the only language on the menu, it seemed.

But Arthur had placed good faith in Alfred to make his first time in a rich restaurant as this a good one. The same went for Peter.

And as Arthur looked down at his steak, he had no regret about trusting Alfred.

And as he took a bite, he had even less scruples about having done so, if that was possible.

"So… Peter, how old are you?"

Peter swallowed his food quickly to answer. "I'm thirteen, sir."

Alfred laughed. They're so alike. Both the Kirkland brothers had trouble getting past the formalities with Alfred, and Alfred was struggling to get them used to it.

Peter watched Alfred's expression and mistook it for irony about his age versus his looks. Peter blushed.

"I know I don't look like I belong in high school…"

Alfred chuckled. "No, it's not that." He waved it off with a smile. Just when he was about to say something else, his phone rang. He looked at the name and blushed. "Sorry, I have to take this."

He flipped it open and murmured, "Yekaterina, honey?" and walked off to get some privacy.

Peter's face paled. He looked at Arthur, swallowing audibly. "Is that…?" Arthur knew exactly what his brother was asking. He nodded ominously.

They ate in silence.

When Alfred returned, even he noticed that the air was different. With a concerned expression, he asked, "Is anything wrong?"

Arthur laughed nervously. "No! Nothing…"

Alfred didn't look convinced, and Arthur was well aware of that.

The rest of dinner went a lot less lively than before. The brothers were a little on edge, while Alfred was just puzzled about the whole situation.

When Alfred walked into his house, he found that the lights were on. He cautiously entered and was attacked from behind by none other than Yekaterina. He ended up on the ground, held down by very heavy and large breasts.

"A-Alfred! My… my therapist has said that I shouldn't see you anymore… and b-brother Ivan… my therapist told m-me to stop visiting h-him too… I… I think that I-I'm going to l-listen to h-him…"

Alfred was absolutely stunned. Yekaterina and him had only become a couple about three weeks ago, and he thought that it all had been going quite well. He was just surprised that she'd break it over a suggestion from her therapist. It broke Alfred's heart.

But Yekaterina was close to tears—as she often was—and Alfred was at a loss for a reply. He was sure though that his crestfallen expression wouldn't help her in the least. He pulled up his heroic strength and smiled.

"I love you, honey, but if you want to do so, then I'll let you." He reached a hand up to caress her face. "You can do what you want."

Yekaterina sighed in relief and got off of Alfred. She stood around shyly, not sure what to do. Finally, she leaned in and gave Alfred a quick kiss on the cheek and dashed out the door, leaving it open behind her.

Alfred stared after her with a depressed feeling. He sighed and exasperatedly ran a hand through his hair, slamming his door shut. He couldn't do any more work tonight. He wouldn't have been able to concentrate.

Alfred trudged up to his room and fell onto the bed, falling into a restless sleep without even changing out of his clothes.

Arthur was also having a hard time falling asleep, though it didn't have anything to do with heartbreak. He was just reminiscing about the days of old. He had no regrets about the divorce, since he had enough experience now to know that what they had felt was nothing like love, but he still thought of that as the "good old days." Ivan had been so wealthy, and for just a little moment in his life, he and Peter were well off.

Arthur rolled over on his makeshift bed and sighed.

"Arthur… Do you miss Ivan?"

Arthur was surprised. Peter was awake?

"I… No. He and I were too different…"

"But you seem to be missing something…"

Arthur sighed. Peter was too perceptive sometimes. "I just… It was a good feeling, you know." He turned to smile at Peter through the darkness. "You'll get there soon enough."

Peter was puzzled. Arthur could sense it, though he didn't reply. They laid there in silence for a little before Peter finally decided to ask.

"You mean… the feeling of…" He blushed. He wasn't old enough to just say 'love' without scruples. It just felt too awkward, especially to his brother. Even if they were close, they weren't that close.

Arthur chuckled. "Yes. I miss the feeling of being in love. It's… lonely. And when you go off to college, what am I to do?" he despaired, though half jokingly. Still, it showed his strong intent to work hard to be able to pay for Peter's education.

Peter smiled slightly. "Well, you can't get a girlfriend since you're working all the time!"

Arthur let the slip pass. The correct term would have been boyfriend, but Peter didn't have the same orientation as his elder brother, so it was forgivable. Arthur had gotten used to how rare homosexuality was, and how often it was frowned upon. He no longer cared.

"Anyways, kiddo, just get some rest." Arthur turned to his side just to make his point.

Peter sighed but complied. Even though Peter was still very curious, he closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep. He knew that Arthur had his best interest in mind.

Author's Comments:

Oh my goodness! I'm sooooo sorry for my lack of updates in recent times. My brain has been fried to a complete crisp for the past week, and probably for the coming week too. But I won't rant here. I'll save you all my stress and frustration.

So I'm also sorry that this chapter is much shorter, and that my writing quality has been pushed back to beyond the stone ages, but I tried! *^* Yosh! I promise to try harder next time. Sorry, sorry! Gomen!

Okay, so Yekaterina's relationship with Alfred was short lived, but I promise that DRUNKEN yaoi will start next chapter. :3

- Galythia

Poll Question!

Is anyone against this changing into an "M" rated fic?

And

Does anyone dislike SM stuff? I, personally, am such a fan (perverted, I know), but... This is just a poll! No SM might even be in this story at all. I just need to gauge this first.