September 11th, 2010.
New York City, USA.
Ground Zero.
How many years has it been now…? Nine, yeah nine- that is if Alfred had counted correctly. Unbelievable. Nine sets of three hundred and sixty-four days had passed by in the blink of an eye that at the same time felt as slow as a dribble of molasses on an icy cold day. Alfred thought it was strange- the way time worked. Something centuries ago could feel like it happened yesterday while something that happened yesterday could feel like centuries ago.
Still Alfred F. Jones was still in the process of healing. Eternity and over wouldn't be enough time for him to heal fully, but still it got better as the days went by. The pain more bearable, but broken hearts never heal. A ghost of a smile crept up on the American's thin pink lips and a shadow of phantom pain clouded over in his sky blue eyes which really wasn't all that uncommon during this time of the year. Fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, disinterest in anything, and spontaneous bouts of crying were all things Arthur put under the category of Alfred's '9/11 sickness.'
"Alfred, you messed up your tie." Arthur's voice came with a small laugh to try and clear the tense atmosphere that had settles in the taxi where the couple now sat. Alfred's endless blue gaze shifted behind the lenses of his glasses until they came to a rest on his petite British lover. Arthur hadn't changed a bit in those past nine years. His soft golden hair was as unruly as ever in his eyes remained the same glimmering green that resembled the fields of the English country side. It was one of the things that brought the younger American nation during this time of the year. Alfred looked down under the rims of his glasses at his hands that had somehow managed to knot his silk red tie to resemble more of a pretzel than a Windsor knot.
"Whoops, guess I wasn't paying attention." The ash blonde tried to laugh off the action with a smile- on a little less bright than usual- in a failed attempt to hide his growing anxiety with the date on the calendar.
Arthur worried his lower lip for a second before he spoke, "Let me help, love." The Briton offered as he gingerly slid over from his spot in the taxi cab to give his American lover a little hand. The older nation's thin delicate hands worked expertly as he untied the pretzel like knot and redid the tie so that it was wrapped snug and proper around Alfred's neck. "There you are, pet." Arthur announced proudly, giving Al's cheek a quick affectionate rub as he slid back to his seat and admired his handiwork.
"Thanks…" Alfred quietly muttered as he leaned back in his seat and absent mindedly stared out the window at the thousands of fellow American citizens that had gathered in the heart of New York to honor the anniversary of that fateful September day. Arthur felt slightly uncomfortable in the tense atmosphere of the cab even though he was used to Alfred getting like this every year around this time. Still it wasn't as if the Briton blamed him for feeling depressed and melancholic, but it made Arthur sad to see the world's golden boy with that beautifully crestfallen look on his face. Arthur gave it a moment a thought before he finally slid his hand over and layered his hand over Alfred's; lacing his own long slender fingers between the American's to send all the comfort he could manage through touch.
Alfred's blue eyed gaze glanced sideways at Arthur who only smiled softly and offered his unique brand of silent sympathy. The American smiled back despite his growing depression; grateful for Arthur being with him every single September 11th to offer him arms to be wrapped in and a shoulder to cry on if it became necessary. Arthur was always there every year without fail. It was one of the things Alfred was most thankful for.
The couple held hands as they traveled through the crowded streets of New York where they were nearly packed like sardines in a can along with all the hundreds of others who had all made the pilgrimage to ground zero; the place where nine years ago the Twin Towers stood tall and proud until they collapsed into nothingness under the weight of other's hatred. As the approached the spot where the gaping hole sat like a battle scar on the earth Alfred's grip on Arthur's hand tightened. Arthur's finger ached in the vice like grip of his younger lover's inhuman strength, but he merely grit his teeth and bared it seeing as how to Alfred the Briton's hand was all that was keeping him tied to this world. Even if his hand became broken he would let go of Alfred's- it may have sounded melodramatic, but there was no way the Briton would let go.
Candles were lit, dim in comparison to the still bright day time sunlight, wax slowly oozing down the sides and hardening in the air like scars on its once smooth surface. Pictures of people were framed and strewn all about the shrine that had been erected early that September morning. Papers covered in poems, stories, and letters, were scattered like confetti along with innumerable amounts of flowers that filled the air with a pungent sweet scent. A million and one people were gathered, faces either stoic and crestfallen or blotchy and streaked with tears- heads hung down as if pressed on by the weight of the memory from nine years ago.
Alfred led Arthur expertly through the throngs of people till the couple came to the centre of the shrine where a larger than life American flag waved proudly like a badge of honor over the site of the fallen. Alfred looked up at the flag- his flag- and furrowed his deep blonde brows. "Nine years, huh?" He mumbled to himself as his eyes glistened behind the lenses of his glasses. "Hey Artie…" He called to his lover. The British nation hummed softly and turned his gaze to the American next to him. "You think it'll still hurt this bad even nine hundred years from now?" His voice was dry when he spoke- tears pooled in Alfred's endless blue eyes as he gazed up to the American flag and soon the salty droplets broke from the rims of his eyes and streaked down his cheeks.
That beautifully crest fallen look in those eyes and on those strong jutting features- it made Arthur's heart give a tight squeeze in his chest. The older nation took his lover's hand with both of his own, "Well… no matter how much time passes the memories and the scars will always hurt…" The Briton regrettably admitted. Arthur softly stroked Alfred's hand, "But still… I… I'll try anyway I can to help ease that pain…" Arthur looked up at the American and smiled softly, tears pooling in the corners of his own liquid emerald eyes.
Alfred gazed down at his lover and gave a small smile through the line of tears streaming down his lightly reddened cheeks. "Thanks Artie… that really means a lot to me…" Alfred voice cracked in the middle of his statement as he began to lose him composure. The hulking American whimpered a little and stuck his hand up under his glasses to rub at his itchy eyes. Arthur stood up on his tiptoes and wrapped his arms around Alfred's neck, bringing him down slightly so he could gently hold him and stoke his messy dark blonde hair while whispering comforting sweet nothings.
And so the two of them stood there locked together in an embrace as Alfred quietly cried and Arthur soothed him right smack in the middle of the place where nine years ago their lives had become forever changed. The memories remained fresh and the scars still throbbed with pain while the fire of war still burned ever so slightly in the marrow of their bones. Arthur and Alfred both knew that no matter how much time passed it would always hurt, but… it was so much better when you had a friend beside you.
Sorry I took so long everybody, but I worked really hard to quickly get this epilogue done for this day in particular seeing as how it's 9/11/10. I'm not entirely sure how the exact 9/11 ceremony went down today seeing as how every year it makes me cry, but I just kind of guessed.
My heart truly goes out to those people who died and to those who lost love ones on this day nine years ago. I cannot even begin to imagine the horror they were faced with that day. I may have been young back then, but looking at it now it only makes my heart sad.
"Faces gone yet always remembered. Voices silent yet forever resounding. Lives lost but never forgotten. Never forget, but learn to forgive in honor of the souls who returned home to heaven that fateful September morning. Hands clasped together in unity, heads hung heavy in respect, lips pressed together in silence. For...ever those souls shall live in the heart of America and in the memories of its people. R.I.P." –Me
Thank you very much to everyone who read and supported this story. It truly meant the world to me. You're all the best and I'm so glad you enjoyed my work.
PS: Here's a little picture I finished today based on this fanfiction (Making fanart for my own story, I know it's lame but whatever)
Heres the link: http : / / jay 1892. deviantart. com/ # / d2yj2ve (Just get rid of all the spaces)